Summary

• The first look at the Michael Jackson biopic Michael reveals Jafaar Jackson in the lead role, dressed as the iconic pop star.
• Michael is directed by Equalizer filmmaker Antoine Fuqua, and stars Jafaar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, and Nia Long.
• Michael comes after the release of Finding Neverland, which explored Michael Jackson's sexual abuse allegations.

The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael gives its first look at the reimagined King of Pop. Set for release in April 2025, the movie is directed by Antoine Fuqua and will document the life story of the famed musician. Michael stars Jafaar Jackson as the titular pop star, and features a supporting cast including Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, and Nia Long.

Jafaar Jackson is the real-life nephew of the late Michael Jackson.

Now, Lionsgate has revealed a first-look image of Michael. This image shows actor Jaafar Jackson in the role, dressed in a classic Michael Jackson white coat as he sings on stage. The star sweats as he imitates the famed artist. Check it out below:

Lionsgate notes that this particular image was taken by photographer Kevin Mazur, who documented Michael Jackson over the years. Mazur said in a statement:

“​​When I arrived for my first day on the set of this movie, I was so excited – it was like the first time I went on tour to shoot Michael Jackson. When I walked onto the set, I felt like I’d gone back in time and I was walking into the stadium to shoot the tour. Seeing Jaafar perform, I thought, ‘Wow, it is Michael.’ The way he looks and acts, his mannerisms, everything – he's Michael Jackson. For anyone who didn’t have the chance to see Michael perform live during his lifetime – this is how it was.”

What To Expect From Michael

Michael is an enticing production since it is directed by Fuqua, who is best known for the Equalizer franchise. Throughout his career, Fuqua has occasionally diverged from conventional action, including directing the drama Southpaw in 2015. Still, a Michael Jackson biopic is definitely a shift from his typical career moves, so it will be interesting to see what kind of spin he puts on the film.

Michael also comes after Jackson’s 2009 death. Following his passing, a posthumous musical documentary, This Is It, was released in theaters, and became massively successful for a concert doc style of film. Ten years later, however, a less favorable documentary series about Jackson was released, titled Leaving Neverland. The docuseries covered the pop star’s alleged pedophilic sexual abuse towards two young boys, who came forward with their stories after years of hiding.

While some of these allegations were already known, Leaving Neverland brought broader public attention to Jackson’s reported misconduct. As the first dramatization about Jackson since his death, it will be interesting to see how Michael grapples with this complicated legacy. Michael could easily either pass over or lean into the pop star’s major flaws as it showcases one of music’s most challenging icons.

Source: Lionsgate