The streak of biopic features isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and Michael is next on the list. Ahead of its theatrical release on 24 April 2026, Lionsgate has dropped a new trailer for the film, focusing on Michael Jackson’s family roots and his rise to fame.
“You are confident. You are strong. You are beautiful. You are the greatest of all time,” opens the clip, as Nia Long (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), who plays the pop star’s mother, says at another point, “I knew you were different the moment you were born. You have a special light.”
But his father, brought to life by Colman Domingo (Euphoria), is also quick to remind Michael, “In this life, you’re either a winner or you’re a loser.”
Stepping into the titular role is Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who is seen singing, dancing, and climbing the ranks of stardom to become the beloved music icon that Michael is today. The industry newcomer also pulls off the King of Pop’s famous moonwalk move, after teasing it in a previous teaser, which racked up a whopping 116.2 million views globally within 24 hours.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer), the biopic additionally stars Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca and Laura Harrier as music producer Suzanne de Passe. Other notable cast members include Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) as Diana Ross, Larenz Tate (Power) as Motown founder Berry Gordy, and Juliano Valdi as young Michael Jackson during his Jackson 5 era. Michael’s siblings — Jermaine, Marlon, Tito, Jackie, and La Toya — are portrayed by Jamal R. Henderson, Tre Horton, Rhyan Hill, Joseph David-Jones (Arrow), and Jessica Sula (Split), respectively.
The film’s official synopsis reads, “Michael tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson 5, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.”
Michael is slated for release on 24 April.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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