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Universal Unveils First Trailer for Michael Jackson Biopic 'Michael' Ahead of April 2026 Release

Legal restrictions stemming from a 1993 agreement have guided script changes and additional shooting.

Overview

  • The 1-minute-12-second trailer presents a life-spanning portrait from Jackson’s childhood through the Bad era.
  • Jaafar Jackson stars as Michael, with Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones, Miles Teller as attorney John Branca, and Colman Domingo and Nia Long as his parents.
  • Universal released the clip on November 6, positioning the film for a planned April 22, 2026 theatrical opening.
  • The project is reported to carry a $155 million budget, produced by Lionsgate and Graham King and distributed by Universal.
  • Director Antoine Fuqua has said the film will “tell what happened” and let viewers decide, while French reporting citing Puck notes 22 days of reshoots to revise later scenes.