Michael Jackson Biopic Michael Drops First Teaser — The King of Pop Returns to the Big Screen
The first teaser for Antoine Fuqua’s Michael is here, with Jaafar Jackson channeling Michael Jackson in an epic biopic that teases electrifying performances, behind-the-curtain drama, and the making of a music icon.
Michael Jackson is getting the full-on big-screen treatment, and the first teaser just dropped. It is a serious swing: big director, heavyweight writer, a legacy performer in the lead, and a release plan that just got pushed way down the calendar.
Lionsgate and Universal put out the teaser for Michael, which is Antoine Fuqua’s biopic of the King of Pop. If you know Fuqua for Training Day or The Equalizer movies, you know he does intensity and momentum, which feels like a fascinating fit for a life this outsized. The script is from John Logan, the Oscar-nominated writer behind Gladiator and Skyfall. And yes, that is Michael’s nephew Jaafar Jackson playing Michael.
- Director: Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer trilogy)
- Writer: John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall)
- Lead: Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson
- Cast: Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, Colman Domingo
- Producers: Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody), John Branca, John McClain
- Teaser: Out now
- Release: Global theatrical launch on April 24, 2026 (and a second film is already in development)
The studio’s pitch is straightforward: this is the full sweep of Michael’s life and legacy. It runs from the Jackson 5 breakout to the early solo tours and the obsessive drive to become the biggest entertainer on Earth, and it promises to spend time both onstage and off. They are clearly aiming for an immersive, front-row vantage point on the performances, while threading through the personal story.
'This is where his story begins.'
Worth noting: early footage apparently played like gangbusters behind closed doors, but the movie’s rollout just hit a major delay. Lionsgate had been eyeing an awards-season push and big box office play this year. Instead, they have locked in April 24, 2026 for a full worldwide release. The pause is tied to legal complications around the project, which, given the subject, is not exactly shocking.
Speaking of precedent, producer Graham King is the same guy who steered Bohemian Rhapsody to almost $1 billion worldwide and a pile of Oscars. Michael seems to be following a similar path: smooth shoot, then turbulence over how the film tackles Jackson’s personal life. That portrayal is the flashpoint everyone is watching.
The teaser arrives with official stills and a new poster. The photos are credited to Glen Wilson and Kevin Mazur, and some of the file labels floating around say 'Maven' on them, which is either an internal tag or just one of those odd studio quirks that show up in early promo materials.
Bottom line: the movie looks big, bold, and built to spark conversation. With the date pushed to 2026, the question now is not if it will be a talking point, but for how long.