The first trailer for Michael, the upcoming biopic about pop icon Michael Jackson, was released Thursday.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film stars Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson — son of Jermaine Jackson in the lead role. The two-hour feature traces Michael’s life from his early days performing with the Jackson 5 through his meteoric solo career and up to his death in 2009.
The movie notably avoids addressing the abuse allegations that surrounded Jackson in adulthood, focusing instead on his music, artistry, and family legacy. The trailer includes scenes of the Jackson 5’s childhood performances and concert footage from Michael’s 1980s world tours, narrated by actor Colman Domingo, who portrays his father, Joe Jackson.
The cast also includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Larenz Tate as Motown founder Berry Gordy, Derek Luke as attorney Johnnie Cochran, Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross.
After facing delays from its original October 2025 release date amid controversy over certain scenes, production sources confirmed to People that the project remains on track. “The Michael Jackson biopic is not in total chaos,” the source said. “The film is moving forward, and reshoots are happening in March.”
Michael is scheduled for theatrical release on April 24, 2026.
