- Michael releases in cinemas on April 24, 2026, directed by Antoine Fuqua
- MJ’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson plays the King of Pop in his film debut
- The teaser trailer broke records with 116 million views in its first 24 hours
- Paris Jackson has publicly distanced herself from the film, calling an early script “sugar-coated”
There are films you watch. And then there are films that feel like events. Michael, the long-awaited biopic about the King of Pop, is firmly the latter. It has been years in the making, delayed more times than most fans can keep track of, and has generated more behind-the-scenes drama than most finished films contain. And it hasn’t even come out yet.
It drops on April 24. Mark your calendars.
The film was previously scheduled for April 2025, then pushed to October 2025, before finally landing on its current release date. Development began back in 2019, and the road since has been anything but smooth. Reshoots, reschedulings, a runtime so long the studio reportedly debated splitting it into two separate films entirely. But here’s the thing: all of that chaos only made people more curious. When Lionsgate dropped the teaser trailer in November 2025, it racked up 30 million views in the first six hours and 116.2 million views within 24 hours, more than any other Lionsgate film and more than any trailer for a musical biopic or concert film in history, surpassing even Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. Deadline That is not hype. That is hunger.
The most talked-about decision was always going to be casting. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) and written by John Logan, whose credits include Gladiator, The Aviator, and Skyfall. Solid pedigree on both counts. But the real conversation has been around the lead. Jaafar Jackson, MJ’s actual nephew, plays the title role, and from the trailer alone you can see why he was cast. He can be seen singing, dancing, and embodying the kind of electric stage presence his uncle was famous for. Deadline It is his film debut, which is either a bold risk or a stroke of genius depending on who you ask. The supporting cast is stacked: Colman Domingo as patriarch Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca, Kat Graham as Diana Ross, and Larenz Tate as Motown founder Berry Gordy. On paper, this cast alone is reason enough to show up.
The film traces Michael Jackson’s journey from his early days with the Jackson Five to his rise as a solo superstar, with a focus on his life beyond the music and the man behind the icon. It is being billed as covering his early career, which means Thriller-era glory is very much on the table. What remains murkier is how much it will engage with the controversies that defined the later years of his life. The studio has described the film as a “riveting and honest portrayal” that presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale, and it has been reported the film will address the criminal allegations in some fashion, though audience reception to that prospect has been mixed. Rotten Tomatoes That tension is what makes this film genuinely interesting to watch unfold. It cannot fully ignore the complicated parts of Michael Jackson’s legacy, but how it handles them will define whether this goes down as a great biopic or a glorified greatest hits package.
Not everyone is sold. Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris Jackson has publicly distanced herself from the film, criticising an early script as “sugar-coated” and noting that Hollywood biopics often control the narrative in ways that bend or distort the truth. It is a sharp critique that is hard to dismiss, especially when it is coming from family. At the same time, Katherine Jackson has publicly endorsed the casting, saying Jaafar “embodies” her son. So even within the Jackson family, the reception is layered. Which, honestly, feels very on brand for a Michael Jackson story.
MJ’s fanbase in the Arab world is genuinely massive, and the UAE is no exception. His music soundtracked a generation here the same way it did everywhere else in the world, in malls, on radio, at weddings, in cars. Industry analysts are already drawing comparisons to Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, a biopic of the only other musical star who rivals Jackson’s level of global fame, which opened modestly and grew into a genuine box office performer across the summer. Boxoffice Pro Whether Michael follows that arc will depend almost entirely on early reviews and word of mouth. Either way, this is the film conversation of the month. And you’ll want to have a take before everyone else does.
Michael is in cinemas from April 24, 2026. Watch the trailer, form your opinions, and come prepared.
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula
Release Date: April 24, 2026
