We’ve finally received a first-look teaser for Antoine Fuqua’s Michael, nearly two years after Lionsgate screened some scenes from the film for audiences at CinemaCon. Seriously. That first-look photo of Jaafar Jackson as his uncle, the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, was released in February 2024. It’s been a long, controversy-filled road, one full of delays (caused by the legally and ethically fraught nature of making a movie about an icon with a certain amount of infamy surrounding them, and the overstuffed screenplay didn’t help matters — depending on how this one does, you might get Michael: Part Two coming your way in 2027), but Lionsgate is finally in the home stretch. And you know what? Jaafar Jackson looks and sounds the part. It’s not stunt casting like it was with that Tupac lookalike back in 2017 — dude’s got talent, and we’re excited to see what he and Fuqua have worked on when it drops next Spring.
Peep it:
Here’s a synopsis for Michael:
“‘Michael’ is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.”
Michael hits theaters on April 24. Old-head corner (call us “Uncs” or whatever you want): It’s hard to believe there are sophomores in high school now who weren’t born yet when Michael Jackson passed away. Boy, how time flies.