Fans Get Their New Look at Jaafar Jackson in Michael Jackson Biopic Teaser

A new teaser for the Michael Jackson biopic has just been released, giving fans a first look at Jaafar Jackson portraying his uncle, the King of Pop. The film, titled Michael, covers Michael Jackson’s rise from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his solo career.

The movie is directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan. Jaafar Jackson makes his acting debut as Michael, while the ensemble cast also includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe, and Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca. Other actors in the film include Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, Derek Luke, Jessica Sula, and Kendrick Sampson.

The biopic has faced some controversy. Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris Jackson, criticized early versions of the script for being “sugar-coated” and said she had no involvement in the production. She also raised concerns over the casting of Miles Teller as John Branca, suggesting it could affect part of the estate.

EARLY ACCESS TICKETS. ON SALE TOMORROW. pic.twitter.com/tccU6yzGER

— Michael (@michaelmovie) March 10, 2026

The screenplay includes elements of Jackson’s personal struggles and allegations of abuse, with producer Graham King stating he wanted to “humanize but not sanitize and present the most compelling, unbiased story.” Some adjustments were made during post-production to address legal issues, including reshoots in early 2025. Lionsgate confirmed that the film remained on track despite rumors of delays.

Michael is now scheduled for release on April 24, in IMAX. Lionsgate will distribute it in the United States, Universal Pictures internationally, and Kino Films in Japan. The film had a positive reception at CinemaCon in April 2024 when a first look was shown to theater owners. The final runtime is expected to be around three and a half hours.

This biopic looks like it will give fans a closer look at Michael Jackson’s life and career. The new teaser already has people excited to see Jaafar Jackson take on the legendary role. What do you think of the first look at the film? Share your thoughts in the comments.