The first official trailer for ‘Michael’, the highly anticipated and controversial Michael Jackson biopic, has landed online [from studio Lionsgate] following widespread reports of a troubled production.
Production Delays and Release Date Clarity
The project has faced a rocky path to the screen. Filming on ‘Michael’ originally wrapped in May 2024, targeting an April 2025 release. That date was quickly pushed to October 2025. However, significant reshoots were required in June, forcing the studio to push the film’s debut once again to its new, firm date: April 2026.
The trailer’s release also appears to debunk persistent rumors that the film was being split into two parts. The new footage markets ‘Michael’ as a single feature film, unifying the narrative.
An A-List Creative and All-Star Cast
The film is helmed by director Antoine Fuqua, a filmmaker renowned for his high-intensity action and thriller titles like Training Day and The Equalizer. This marks a significant shift in genre for Fuqua, who is working from a script by John Logan, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind epics like Gladiator, The Aviator, and Hugo.
The central role of Michael Jackson will be played by Jaafar Jackson, the late singer’s real-life nephew, in his major acting debut.
The powerhouse supporting cast includes:
- Colman Domingo (Oscar nominee) as the family patriarch, Joe Jackson.
- Nia Long (Boyz n the Hood) as the family matriarch, Katherine Jackson.
- Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick) as Jackson’s powerful attorney, John Branca.
The “Unbiased” Approach to a Complicated LegacyThe film is being produced with the cooperation of the Michael Jackson estate, a fact that has drawn scrutiny from critics who question how the film will handle the controversial allegations against the star.
British producer Graham King, who famously handled Bohemian Rhapsody, addressed this directly. “Michael’s life was complicated,” King said. “As a film-maker, I look to humanise but not sanitise and present the most compelling, unbiased story I can capture in a single feature film and let the audience decide how they feel after watching it. Michael clearly remains an impactful, culturally relevant artist with a life and legacy worth exploring.”
The ‘Michael’ biopic is facing intense public scrutiny regarding its handling of the late singer’s complicated legacy, most notably from Michael Jackson’s own daughter, Paris Jackson, and from critics of the film’s script.
Paris Jackson Denies Involvement, Calls Script “Dishonest”
The controversy escalated after star Colman Domingo (who plays Joe Jackson) claimed the Jackson family was “very much in support” of the film, specifically mentioning he was attending an amfAR event with Paris Jackson.
Paris Jackson quickly issued a sharp rebuttal on Instagram, denying any involvement:
“Don’t be telling people I was ‘helpful’ on the set of a movie I had zero percent involvement in lol that is so weird,” she wrote. “I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my notes about what was dishonest / didn’t sit right with me and when they didn’t address it I moved on with my life. Not my monkeys not my circus.”
She concluded by stating the film is aimed at a specific audience: “A big section, the film panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy, and they’re gonna be happy with it.”
Criticism Over ‘Leaving Neverland’ Allegations
Paris Jackson’s claims of dishonesty mirror earlier accusations from Dan Reed, the director of the explosive 2019 docuseries ‘Leaving Neverland’. Leaving Neverland resurfaced sexual assault allegations against Jackson from two men who claimed he abused them as children.
After reportedly reading a draft of the ‘Michael’ script, Reed called it “startlingly disingenuous,” alleging that it actively discredited both accusers.
“[Jackson] is only ever seen caring for children with childhood cancer, or dancing with a little girl in a wheelchair, or tucking up multiple little boys, mostly his nephews, at sleepovers,” Reed said.
High-Stakes Budget and Box Office Pressure
This intense controversy adds significant financial pressure to the project, which carries a massive reported budget of $155 million.
The film’s high-stakes release follows the
disappointing box office returns for this year’s highly anticipated Bruce Springsteen biopic, ‘Deliver Me from Nowhere’ (starring Jeremy Allen White), which has only made $31 million since its release last month—a potential warning sign for the music biopic genre.
‘Michael’ is scheduled to be released in cinemas in April 2026.
