First Teaser For Michael Jackson Biopic Showcases Jaafar Jackson’s Transformation As Film Emerges From Major Delays And Legal Hurdles

TV + Movies

By Erin Whitten

Updated 3 hours ago, November 6, 2025

The first teaser for Michael, Lionsgate’s long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic, is here. Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of the late singer, has been thrust into the spotlight in a highly condensed origin story that promises to paint the King of Pop as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. The minute long teaser is no stranger to showmanship and nostalgia; in fact, most of it is dedicated to recreating Jackson’s most famous dance moves from his numerous musical performances and the music video for “Thriller.” Scenes that show him practicing his Moonwalk in a room with mirrors and studio footage of Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones provide context for the small preview. Sampson’s voice is also heard in the beginning of the clip with a fairly direct reference to the film’s extensive production: “I know you’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

Principal photography had been scheduled to begin in January 2024, with the actual shoot taking place in May. However, the screenplay was partially rewritten to account for an issue involving a pre-existing legal agreement known as the 1993 Chandler settlement, which bars the film from including the family of the same name in any part of the story. This legal wrinkle reportedly led to a massive reshoot of the entire third act to account for the change once the original script was already in production, leading to a second slate of 22 days of photography in June of the following year. There was some rumblings earlier in the year that the film could be split into two separate productions, likely as a means to avoid an even more strenuous level of reshoots due to the late script overhaul. However, this newest trailer shows no signs of that happening, with the film set to be released worldwide on April 24, 2026.

The plot has been described as an origin story, following Jackson’s ascent from his initial popularity as a member of the Jackson 5 to his early solo career. Aspects of performance, ambition, and artistry are brought up, emphasizing his work as a creator rather than the events that eventually colored the public’s perception of his later life. The film still has not made any particular reference to Jackson’s allegations of sexual abuse and the later investigation into those claims. As the teaser trailer makes no mention of this area of his life, it is difficult to determine if the final product will account for it in any capacity. If past interview snippets by the cast are any indication, the question will not be directly addressed and the bulk of his legacy will focus on the positive. The limitations of the Chandler settlement also ensure that, at the very least, his first major legal battle will be off the table.

The casting is one of the more extensive roles for a biopic, given the multiple eras Jackson’s life would have to encompass. Jaafar Jackson has been cast as the role of adult Michael, but a nine-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi plays the singer in his formative years. Joe and Katherine Jackson will be portrayed by Colman Domingo and Nia Long, respectively, and the support structure of the singer’s life will include Miles Teller as attorney and later manager John Branca. The Jackson 5 will be filled by two separate pairs of actors in order to reflect their appearance at various points of the group’s history.

The only public comments from Jackson family members so far have been mixed. Katherine Jackson has spoken in support of Jaafar Jackson’s casting and his ability to perform as her late son, as well as how this biopic is a continuation of his legacy as told by his parents. His daughter, Paris Jackson, however, has taken a more scathing view on the production and is in the process of distancing herself from it; she has announced that she had “zero percent involvement” and was offended by early draft characterizations. The divergent narratives between the estate-sanctioned story and that of Paris and the younger Jacksons have served to polarize Jackson’s cultural and musical impact, a debate that remains far from settled. Michael seems to be leaning further into its status as an estate-backed mythologization than a full-blown biographical work, which seems poised to continue that conversation further.

The theatrical distribution for the film has been set to Lionsgate in domestic territories and Universal Pictures for foreign markets. This allows it to be released for IMAX in a significant number of theaters as well. Lionsgate has teased a release for April 2026, with a wide rollout in both theaters and home video platforms. The early, pre-release marketing is a direct shot at Jackson’s established fan base, which still accounts for many of his sales and streams. Whether or not the finished film is able to service those fans, however, while also not pissing off critics and those looking for a more critical perspective on Jackson’s life and legacy will be one of the defining aspects of Michael and the most controversial parts of his legacy remain under the table.