Michael Jackson must stand up to his father in first full biopic trailer

After growing up as part of the Jackson 5, Michael achieves his solo breakthrough with albums Off The Wall and Thriller. Based on the trailer, it looks like Michael will focus much of its time on the period immediately following Thriller, when Michael’s father and one-time manager Joe Jackson insisted on having the rest of the Jacksons join what was ostensibly a Thriller tour for the Victory Tour. It’s certainly an interesting moment and dynamic, and it’s one that comes before any of the far more disturbing allegations about Michael would emerge. In January 2025, it was reported by Puck that the third act would focus on (Michael’s innocence during) the child sex abuse scandal that tainted his career in the early 90s. That prospect became legally messy, and it’s unclear how much, if any, of that remains in the finished film. 

In any case, Michael is scheduled to open on April 24. Jaafar Jackson, the son of Michael’s brother Jermaine, stars as the King of Pop, with Nia Long and Colman Domingo starring as his parents, Katherine and Joe, respectively. Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, and Miles Teller also star.