Quick update on the Michael Jackson biopic: the studio machine just spun up again. Lionsgate and Universal dropped a new poster, and they are teeing up the full trailer for tomorrow. Yes, they are pacing this rollout like a tour schedule.
What just went live
The film is simply titled 'Michael' and it is locked for April 24, 2026 in theaters and IMAX. Over the weekend, the official account on X (formerly Twitter) posted the new artwork and hammered the date.
"His story made history. MICHAEL - in theaters and IMAX April 24. #MichaelMovie"
One day later, Lionsgate followed with the straightforward heads-up: 'MICHAEL - TRAILER TOMORROW. #MichaelMovie'. So, consider your Monday booked.
The poster (and what it is trying to say)
Jaafar Jackson, who is Michael Jackson's real-life nephew, fronts the poster in a dead-on recreation of the red leather 'Beat It' jacket, aviator shades, and a soft, just-before-the-spotlight smile. The whole thing is washed in a warm, golden glow, and the tagline reads: 'His Story Begins'. The signal is not subtle: this is about the ascent, from little brother in the Jackson 5 to solo phenomenon.
Fansite Michael Jackson World Network clocked that tagline and suggested it might hint at a multi-part structure and a wink toward the 1995 album 'HIStory'. Maybe, maybe not — but the nostalgia dial is clearly set to high.
What the movie is covering
Expect a mix of offstage life and early solo-era performances — the foundational stuff that defined the man before the mega-myth took over. Production also went back for three weeks of reshoots in June 2025 to rework parts of the third act. Translation: they tweaked the ending.
Who is making this (and who is in it)
- Director: Antoine Fuqua
- Producer: Graham King (the Bohemian Rhapsody producer)
- Writer: John Logan
- Michael Jackson: Jaafar Jackson
- Also starring: Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, Derek Luke
- Release: April 24, 2026, in theaters and IMAX nationwide
Bottom line: new teaser and poster now, full trailer hits tomorrow, and the movie lands April 24, 2026. The campaign is clearly leaning into classic imagery and the origin story. If you grew up on that jacket and those shades, they know exactly what they are doing.