Est. 1998
Lionsgate released the first full trailer for the highly anticipated biopic “Michael” on Monday, offering audiences their most extensive look yet at Jaafar Jackson’s transformation into his legendary uncle. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film is set for a global theatrical release on April 24, 2026.
The trailer opens on an intimate note, with Michael psyching himself up in the studio. “You’re confident. You’re strong. You’re the greatest of all time,” can be heard in the voiceover, before the footage erupts into a montage of the singer’s life. The preview spans Michael’s journey from the commanding lead of the Jackson 5 to the global superstar who shattered records with Thriller.
Central to the trailer is the intense family dynamic that fueled Michael’s rise. Colman Domingo delivers a chilling performance as Joe Jackson, the demanding patriarch who pushes his sons to escape a life of labor. “I told you what to think” he says condescending to Michael.
Visually, the trailer dazzles with meticulous recreations of pop culture history. Fans are treated to glimpses of the “Thriller” and “Beat It” music videos, as well as the history making moonwalk at the Motown 25 special. Jaafar Jackson, whose casting has drawn significant attention, appears to capture Michael’s physicality and soft-spoken demeanor with uncanny precision.
Produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody) and written by John Logan, Michael promises a definitive, albeit complex, portrait of the man behind the myth.
Michael arrives in theaters and IMAX on April 24, 2026.
