The long-awaited biopic about the King of Pop is finally arriving in theaters. Michael tells the story of legendary singer Michael Jackson through the eyes of his own family. The movie stars his real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. After several delays, the film is set to hit the big screen this month. Fans around the world have been waiting to see how the production handles the life of one of music’s biggest stars. Here is everything you need to know about the release, the cast, and what people are saying after the first screenings.
Michael (2026) Hits Theaters on April 24
The Michael (2026) movie will officially open in theaters on April 24, 2026. Lionsgate is handling the North American release, while Universal Pictures distributes the film internationally. The movie will also be shown in IMAX at select locations.
The world premiere took place in Berlin on April 10, 2026, followed by a fan celebration event. The Hollywood premiere then happened on April 20, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Several cast members walked the red carpet, including Miles Teller, Colman Domingo, Laura Harrier, and Nia Long.
Here is the release schedule for key countries:
- USA: April 24, 2026
- UK: April 24, 2026
- Canada: April 24, 2026
- Australia: April 24, 2026
- Germany: April 24, 2026
- France: April 24, 2026
- India: April 25, 2026
- South Korea: May 13, 2026
The film has a run time of 2 hours and 10 minutes and was made with a budget of $170 million.
Jaafar Jackson Steps Into His Uncle’s Shoes
The biggest talking point about this movie is Jaafar Jackson playing Michael Jackson. Jaafar is the son of Jermaine Jackson, making him Michael’s real-life nephew. This is his first major acting role.
Early reviews praise Jaafar’s performance. Critics say he captures Michael’s soft voice, his walk, and his stage presence. The musical and dance numbers are where he really shines. Many viewers say there are moments when they forget they are not watching the real Michael Jackson.
The casting process was very competitive. Jaafar went through multiple auditions before landing the role in early 2023. His family connection to Michael gave him unique insight into the pop star’s life and mannerisms.
Full Cast List for the Michael Biopic
The supporting cast includes many well-known actors. Here is the complete list of main cast members:
- Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson
- Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael Jackson
- Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson (Michael’s father)
- Nia Long as Katherine Jackson (Michael’s mother)
- Miles Teller as John Branca (Michael’s manager and attorney)
- Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe
- KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Bill Bray
- Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy
- Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones
- Liv Symone as Gladys Knight
- Jessica Sula as La Toya Jackson
- Kat Graham as Diana Ross
- Kevin Shinick as Dick Clark
The film also includes actors playing Michael’s brothers. Jamal R. Henderson plays Jermaine Jackson, Tre Horton plays Marlon Jackson, Rhyan Hill plays Tito Jackson, and Joseph David-Jones plays Jackie Jackson.
What the Movie Covers
The biopic follows Michael Jackson’s life from his childhood days performing with the Jackson 5. It shows his rise to fame as a solo artist and his transformation into the King of Pop. The film includes his most famous performances and gives viewers a look at his creative process.
Director Antoine Fuqua (known for The Equalizer and Training Day) helms the project. The script comes from John Logan, a three-time Oscar nominee. Producer Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody) produces under his GK Films company.
The movie received support from Michael Jackson’s estate. Prince Jackson, Michael’s eldest son, serves as an executive producer. However, his siblings Bigi and Paris Jackson are not involved in the project.
First Reviews and Audience Reactions
The first reviews for Michael (2026) started appearing after the Los Angeles premiere. Critics generally agree that Jaafar Jackson gives a strong performance in the lead role.
“Jaafar Jackson is absolutely brilliant in the role. He was born to play Michael Jackson, quite literally, as he is the son of Michael’s brother Jermaine.” – Moviefone
Some reviewers note that the film follows a standard biopic formula. It covers the well-known moments from Michael’s career without taking many risks. Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson received praise for his performance. He plays Michael’s father with a menacing presence that drives much of the story’s conflict.
Nia Long as Katherine Jackson also earned positive comments. Reviewers say she brings unconditional love to the role and gives one of the best performances of her career.
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Family Members Share Their Thoughts
At the Hollywood premiere, La Toya Jackson spoke about the film. She also revealed that her sister Janet Jackson was asked to appear in the movie but declined.
“I wish everybody was in the movie. She was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.” – La Toya Jackson to Variety
The Jackson family has been mostly supportive of the project. Having Jaafar in the lead role helped keep the film authentic to Michael’s memory. The movie shows the family’s journey from Gary, Indiana to worldwide fame.
Why the Movie Was Delayed
Michael was originally supposed to come out in April 2025. The release date then moved to October 2025 before finally settling on April 2026. Reports suggest the filmmakers wanted extra time for reshoots and script revisions.
There were also discussions about splitting the movie into two parts. The current version focuses on Michael’s early career up through the release of his solo album Off the Wall. The film ends before the later controversies of his life.
Filming finished in May 2024. The production then went through additional photography in June 2024 to polish certain scenes. The extra time allowed the team to get the performances right.
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