Jaafar Jackson Stars in Michael Jackson Biopic

Michael Jackson in 1983, at the height of his rise as one of pop music’s most influential global performers. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael opens in theaters and IMAX on April 24, 2026. Lionsgate distributes domestically, with Universal Pictures handling international release. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, the film stars Jaafar Jackson. Jackson is Michael’s nephew and son of Jermaine Jackson, in his feature film debut. Early box office tracking reported by Deadline projects a domestic opening of $60 million or more, which would set a new record for a musical biopic, surpassing the $60 million debut of Straight Outta Compton in 2015 and the $51 million opening of Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018.

The film covers Michael Jackson’s life from his childhood with the Jackson 5 through his peak solo career in the 1980s, including his work with producer Quincy Jones on the Thriller album. The confirmed soundtrack includes titles from across his catalog: I’ll Be There, Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, and Bad, among others. The cast includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as attorney John Branca, and Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy. The production was made with cooperation from the Michael Jackson Estate.

Two Years to Cast the Lead

Casting Jaafar Jackson required a two-year process, according to reporting from multiple entertainment outlets. He was required to demonstrate his ability to replicate Michael Jackson’s movement, vocal style, and stage presence before being confirmed in the role. In a behind-the-scenes featurette released by Universal Pictures UK, Jaafar described the process as challenging and said he wanted to prove to himself, his family, and the filmmakers that he could do it. His grandmother, Katherine Jackson, publicly approved the casting and stated publicly that Jaafar embodies her son.

Jaafar, born in 1996, is the son of Jermaine Jackson. He had previously released original music and appeared on the reality series Living with the Jacksons. Michael is his first feature film. The teaser trailer, released in November 2025, generated more than 116 million views in its first 24 hours, surpassing the previous record held by the Taylor Swift Eras Tour film, according to Deadline.

Production History and Delays

The film was originally scheduled for an April 2025 release, then delayed to October 2025, before landing on the confirmed April 24, 2026, date. According to Billboard, the delay was attributed to the film’s length and the need for additional post-production work, including additional photography completed in June 2025. Lionsgate chairman Adam Fogelson stated that the studio was not ready to confirm plans for a potential second film but said the studio was positioning itself to deliver more content featuring Jackson after the first film’s release.

One reported production constraint involved the film’s third act. Variety reported that the section was reworked because the production could not legally depict Jordan Chandler, who alleged that Michael Jackson sexually abused him in 1993. Lionsgate disputed the extent of the disruption, stating in public communications that the film remained on schedule. The film’s official description from the studio characterizes it as a portrayal of Jackson’s life from childhood through the height of his career.

Box Office Context and Advance Interest

Deadline’s tracking, updated in early April 2026, placed the projected domestic opening at north of $60 million, with advance ticket sales and first-choice metrics described as strong across age and gender demographics. Early-access screenings in IMAX and Dolby formats are scheduled for April 22, two days before the wide release. The world premiere took place in Berlin on April 10 at the Uber Eats Music Hall, with a multi-floor installation featuring film memorabilia and materials from Jackson’s career.

The film arrives as the most commercially anticipated musical biopic in several years. Previous entries in the genre - including Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen), Elvis (Elvis Presley), and Rocketman (Elton John) - each generated significant opening weekends and extended theatrical runs. Lionsgate’s domestic tracking data for Michael shows first-choice audience preference currently ahead of those titles at a comparable point before release, according to Deadline’s April 2 report.

References: Michael Box Office Projection | Michael Jackson Biopic Pushed to April 2026 Release