Jaafar Jackson’s Stunning Turn In Promising Michael Jackson Biopic

The first trailer for Michael, the much-awaited Michael Jackson biopic, has debuted online and is reigniting praise for Jaafar Jackson's performance, and has renewed debate over how the film will handle the star's controversies.

Antoine Fuqua's Michael opens with glossy, pageant-style images of its subject: rehearsal rooms, stage lights, and a young performer morphing into the King of Pop.

The one-minute teaser, released this week, leans into performance: a recreation of Thriller era choreography, studio sessions, and intimate backstage moments and places Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew, squarely at the centre. Studio credits show a high production pedigree: a John Logan script, producer Graham King, and a reported budget that industry outlets peg in the triple digits.

The trailer confirms the film's new release timing: Michael is set to arrive in cinemas on April 24, 2026, after a string of scheduling shifts and reported reshoots that pushed the project back from its original 2025 window. According to earlier rumours, it was said that the biopic might be split into two parts, but the teaser presents a single-film structure and a tightly edited spectacle-first tone.

What the trailer leaves out

While the teaser leans into concert sequences and career milestones, it notably avoids explicit reference to the sexual-abuse allegations made in public in Dan Reed's 2019 documentary "Leaving Neverland" or to the family's internal conflicts.

That omission is already fueling debate: some critics argue that a film about a figure as contested as Michael Jackson should confront those allegations head-on; others expect the feature to "humanise but not sanitise," as producer Graham King has said in interviews, and to trust viewers to weigh the evidence.

Performances and casting

Jaafar Jackson carries the essence of the Michael biopic, channeling his uncle's moves and, according to many viewers, an impressively accurate vocal impression in snippets. The cast also includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Miles Teller, Nia Long, and Laura Harrier in supporting roles. Kendrick Sampson briefly appears as Quincy Jones in the teaser, underlining the film's emphasis on the creative process behind Jackson's most enduring work.

Family responses and public reaction

Public reaction has been split. Fans praised Jaafar's likeness and the trailer's production value; social media feeds were filled with nostalgia and hope that the film would faithfully render Michael's artistic genius. However, Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson's daughter, publicly denied any involvement through an Instagram story and distanced herself from the project.

The contrast between fan excitement and family scepticism is shaping early coverage and will likely influence box-office chatter when the film premieres.

What to watch out for next

Expect longer trailers, reviews, and reaction pieces as the marketing campaign ramps up towards April 24, 2026. Key watchpoints for audiences include: how the finished film treats the allegation and private life, how Jaafar Jackson is assessed in full dramatic scenes (beyond the teaser), and whether the film's narrative balances spectacle with accountability.