Jaafar Jackson Channels His Uncle Michael in New ‘Michael’ Trailer

Exciting news has arrived, and this time it concerns a musical biopic about the "People’s Favorite" and King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Yesterday, Lionsgate dropped the official trailer, providing deeper insight into the legendary musician's life story. This follows the teaser released in November 2025 for the film, simply titled Michael. Following the success of biopics for icons like Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson’s story is finally joining the ranks of cinematic musical legends.

The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, best known for The Equalizer series starring Denzel Washington. Taking on the lead role is the late singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson. Although Michael marks his acting debut, Jaafar is no stranger to the spotlight, having pursued his own music career and appeared in projects like 2015’s The Jacksons: Next Generation. The recently released trailer showcases Jaafar’s impeccable performance, making him nearly indistinguishable from his uncle. His mimicry of Michael’s voice, expressions, and movements is strikingly identical.

According to the official synopsis, the film explores the star's life and legacy, tracing his journey from his early days as the lead of the Jackson 5 to becoming the global icon who redefined the music industry through his solo albums. The cast features Colman Domingo as his father, Joe Jackson, and Nia Long as his mother, Katherine. Jessica Sula portrays his sister, La Toya Jackson, while Miles Teller stars as his attorney and advisor, John Branca.

In a recent interview, director Antoine Fuqua expressed deep confidence in Jaafar’s ability to embody Michael. The film also features Kendrick Sampson as legendary producer Quincy Jones, the man behind the three iconic albums, namely, Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. It defined 80s pop music. The screenplay was penned by John Logan, acclaimed for his work on The Aviator, Hugo, and The Last Samurai.

Production wrapped in May 2024, and Michael is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release this April.

The author, Nag Adithya, is an intern from Loyola Academy, Hyderabad.