The first look of the controversial Michael Jackson biopic starring Jaafar Jackson has been unveiled
- Sania Jameel
- Nov 19, 2025
- 2 min read
Michael’s teaser trailer was released on November 6, 2025. The trailer for the film shot up to 30 million views in its first six hours. It showed the look of Jaafar Jackson, playing the legendary Michael Jackson and recreating some of the iconic moments from his brilliant career.
About Michael Jackson's biopic
“Michael” is directed by Antoine Fuqua, and the screenplay is by the Oscar-nominated John Logan. The biopic is produced by Graham King, who is best known for his Oscar-winning movie “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
The movie is expected to cover the late pop star's journey to fame, from the Jackson Five childhood to “King of Pop”. The biopic will comprehensively showcase the life of the legend through an honest portrayal. Michael aims to focus on Jackson's musical achievements and visionary growth.
Jaafar Jackson Stepping Into His Uncle’s Shoes
Jafaar Jackson is playing his uncle's role in the highly anticipated biopic. Jaafar Jackson is the son of Michael's older brother. The actor was chosen after a two-year casting process. The producer, Graham King, stated that he was able to embody Michael's essence naturally, making him a perfect fit for the role.
Jaafar Jackson has been rehearsing a lot for this big role to pay respect to his uncle's life's work and carry everything with authenticity. He has immersed himself in full dedication to adjust his voice pitch to his uncle's, which is quite higher than his own. His own close ones have said that he had worked really hard to step into his uncle's shoes gracefully and carry his aura proudly.
First Look Breakdown - Fans Can’t Keep Calm
The trailer of Michael Jackson's biopic teases fans with his real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, playing his absolute icon of an uncle. The trailer showcases shots of sold-out stadiums, a snippet of the legendary “Thriller” music video, and The Moonwalk. This teases that the movie will focus on Michael Jackson’s career achievements instead of the controversies he was surrounded by.
Some other cast members include Juliano Krue Valdi playing young Michael Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson (Michael's mother), and Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson (his father).
Filming Details & Release Date
The initial shooting of the biopic was intended to be earlier, but got delayed due to the big strike in the film industry, “The 2023 SAG-AFTRA”. Then it began in January 2024 and ended around May 2024. The movie was initially set to be released on April 18, 2025, but was delayed twice. After finishing the first version of the movie, they changed the script and reshot some scenes of the movie after realising some topics can’t be shown due to legal restrictions. This led to the delayed screening of the movie.
April 24, 2026, is when the final release is scheduled.
Keep navigating The ScreenLight for movie updates and reviews.
