The highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” is almost here, but fans have noticed one big name missing from the story. Janet Jackson, one of the most famous members of the Jackson family, does not appear in the film. Now, her sister La Toya Jackson has shared the real reason why.
The movie focuses on the life of the King of Pop, played by his real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson. It covers his early days with The Jackson 5 to his rise as a solo superstar. The film had its big Hollywood premiere on April 20, 2026, and is set to hit theaters worldwide on April 24, 2026.
Janet Was Asked to Join but Said No
During the red carpet premiere in Hollywood, La Toya Jackson spoke to Variety about why her famous sister is not in the movie. The answer was very simple and came down to personal choice.
“I wish everybody was in the movie. She was asked and she kindly declined, so you have to respect her wishes.” – La Toya Jackson
La Toya made it clear that there is no family fight behind this decision. She also shut down reports from TMZ that suggested the movie caused a clash between Janet and their brother Jermaine Jackson. La Toya told Entertainment Tonight:
“There was absolutely no problem whatsoever. None whatsoever, and please believe that.”
Director Antoine Fuqua also spoke about Janet’s absence. He said he has a lot of “respect and love” for Janet. Fuqua added that the most important thing was making sure the Jackson family was happy with the final product, and he is okay with Janet’s choice to stay out of the film.
Who Is in the Movie Instead
Even though Janet is not there, the movie has plenty of family involvement. Jaafar Jackson (Jermaine’s son) plays Michael. Colman Domingo plays their father, Joe Jackson, and Nia Long plays their mother, Katherine Jackson.
Other family members who walked the red carpet included Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson. Interestingly, La Toya Jackson is actually in the movie herself. Actress Jessica Sula plays La Toya on screen.
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Other Family Reactions to the Film
While Janet politely stepped away, another member of the family has been much more vocal. Paris Jackson, Michael’s 28-year-old daughter, has criticized the project. She was notably absent from the Hollywood premiere.
Earlier in the year, Paris took to social media to explain why she wants nothing to do with the film. She said she read an early draft of the script and told them what was “dishonest” and did not sit right with her. When the filmmakers did not fix those issues, she walked away.
“The film panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy. And they’re going to be happy with it.” – Paris Jackson
Despite these family disagreements, the movie is moving forward with a massive theater release. Early box office tracking suggests “Michael” could open with $55 million to $60 million, which would be the biggest opening ever for a music biopic.
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