The King of Pop continues to captivate audiences worldwide. In just the first six hours online, the teaser trailer for Lionsgate’s Michael — the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua — amassed over 30 million views, marking it as one of the most-watched trailer debuts in the studio’s history. Michael is scheduled to premiere in theaters on April 24, 2026, and has already created significant excitement among fans eager to witness Jaafar Jackson, the late singer’s nephew, embody his uncle’s legacy.

This figure, disclosed by Lionsgate Motion Picture Chair Adam Fogelson during today’s earnings call, represents a 50% increase compared to what John Wick: Chapter 4 achieved in the same timeframe. “People have been waiting a long time for this,” Fogelson stated. “I think people are stunned with Jaafar’s [Jackson’s] performance.”

The biopic is produced by Bohemian Rhapsody‘s Graham King, reuniting him with the type of grand musical storytelling that characterized that Oscar-winning film. With Fuqua at the helm and a screenplay penned by John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall), Michael aims to balance spectacle with humanity — offering “a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop.”

‘Michael’ Will Be in Two Parts

Fogelson also confirmed that Lionsgate’s ambitious biopic has been divided into two films, a decision made after the original cut exceeded three and a half hours. Additionally, part of the initial footage included material involving one of Jackson’s accusers — which is contractually prohibited from dramatization due to previous legal settlements.

“Since the last time we worked together on an earnings call, we’ve had the great pleasure of seeing the director’s cut of the first film, and it is exceptional. While we’re not yet ready to confirm plans for a second film, I can tell you that the creative team is hard at work making sure that we’re in a position to deliver more Michael soon after we release the first film.”

Fuqua has described Michael as a deeply personal project. “There is no artist with the power, charisma, and sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson,” he remarked in an earlier statement. “His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on screen alongside his music was irresistible.”

The film’s cast features Colman Domingo as patriarch Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as Jackson’s attorney John Branca. Young Michael is portrayed by Juliano Krue Valdi, while Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, and Jessica Sula complete the ensemble as real-life figures from Jackson’s life.

Michael will debut in theaters on April 24, 2026.

Here you can find the original article; the photos and images used in our article also come from this source. We are not their authors; they have been used solely for informational purposes with proper attribution to their original source.[/nospin]

Share on Facebook

Post on X

Follow us

Save