Michael Jackson fans will finally be moonwalking to the movies this April!
Lionsgate and Universal Pictures have officially released the full-length trailer for Michael, the overdue and expansive biopic exploring the life, music, and profound controversies of the late global icon that hits cinemas in Spring.
The new footage marks a distinct shift in the promotional campaign. While an early teaser was upbeat and relied on the nostalgia of Jackson's 80's era, this trailer, first shown during The Grammys telecast, provides a stark, cinematic look at the intense family issues, and other battles that defined the superstar's personal life.
Produced by Academy Award winning filmmaker Graham King, the producer of The Departed, Aviator and Bohemian Rhapsody, Michael is the feature film debut of Jaafar Jackson. As Michael’s real-life nephew and the son of Jermaine Jackson, since the project's announcement, Jaafar has gained viral attention on social media for his uncanny physical resemblance to his uncle.
Beyond the looks, the new trailer showcases Jaafar’s ability to replicate Michael's distinct speaking voice and high-octane dance choreography. Producers have noted that Jaafar was chosen not just for the family connection, but because he was the only performer capable of channeling Michael's specific stage presence.
A Teaser Poster for Michael. Credit: Universal Pictures
The biopic also features a heavy-hitting lineup of Hollywood talent tasked with bringing the Jackson family and the music industry's elite to life:
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by three-time Academy Award nominee John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator), Michael aims to provide a "front-row seat" to the entertainer's life.
The narrative covers the full spectrum of his journey, beginning with his childhood as the breakout star of the Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana. It then traces his relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. It explores the "man behind the glove," touching on the psychological toll of isolation, the loss of childhood, and the complexities of his private life that were often misunderstood by the public.
A scene from Michael. Credit: Universal Pictures
A scene from Michael. Credit: Universal Pictures
The road to the screen for Michael has been incredibly turbulent. Originally slated for an April 2025 release, the film was pushed back twice—first to October 2025, and finally to April 2026.
According to insiders, Fuqua's initial cut was reportedly over three and a half hours long. Studio executives then spent months debating whether to split the biopic into two separate films with a Part 1 and Part 2 release strategy.
Also in in mid-2025, the production underwent nearly a month of additional filming. These reshoots were reportedly triggered by a nightmare legal scenario involving the depiction of Michael's private life and a past settlement involving the 1993 child abuse allegations made by Jordan "Jordy" Chandler.
Reports from early screenplay drafts suggested that the film’s original third act focused heavily on the Chandler investigation. The script reportedly depicted Michael as a "naïve victim" and included scenes where his legal team, led by John Branca (Miles Teller) and Johnnie Cochran (Derek Luke), played a recorded conversation of Jordy’s father, Evan Chandler, allegedly threatening to "destroy" Jackson’s career for money.
However, a massive legal oversight was discovered after principal photography was completed. A clause in the 1994 settlement agreement between Michael Jackson and the Chandler family reportedly prohibits the Estate from ever dramatizing the Chandlers or their specific story in a motion picture. Because the Jackson Estate is co-producing the film, this legally rendered the original third act unusable. The filmmakers were forced to go back into production to rewrite and reshoot these pivotal sequences to avoid a massive breach-of-contract lawsuit.
Despite these legal constraints, Fuqua has promised that the film will not be a "whitewash." He has stated that the biopic aims to tell "the facts as we know them," including the "good, bad, and the ugly."
This promise has been met with skepticism by some. Dan Reed, the director of the HBO/Channel 4 documentary Leaving Neverland, has criticized the project as "propaganda," claiming that any film sanctioned by the Estate cannot truly address the gravity of the allegations. Fans, meanwhile, remain divided on whether the film should focus on Michael's musical genius or the complexities of the 1993 and 2005 trials (the latter of which resulted in a full acquittal).
Adding to the off-screen drama is the stance of Michael’s daughter, Paris Jackson. While her cousin Jaafar Jackson takes the lead role, Paris has remained fiercely independent from the project, taking to Instagram to set the record straight, she told her followers:
"Don't be telling people I was 'helpful' on the set of a movie I had zero per cent involvement in lol that is so weird."
With the legal hurdles seemingly cleared, the film is now set for it's international premiere in Berlin on April 10, 2026. This will kick off a "Fan Celebration" event, where the stars and creators will engage with the public before the film’s worldwide theatrical release on April 24, the details of which have yet to be shared.
