Michael Biopic Sparks Debate: Critics, Cast, and Controversy Around the King of Pop Film

The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” has sparked renewed discussion about family involvement, with La Toya Jackson explaining why her sister Janet Jackson does not appear in the film despite their close relationship to the King of Pop.

According to La Toya Jackson, Janet’s absence from the biopic stems from her desire to maintain privacy regarding personal family matters. La Toya shared this insight during recent promotional discussions surrounding the Antoine Fuqua-directed film, which stars Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson and is scheduled for theatrical release on April 24, 2026.

The biopic has faced significant scrutiny even before its release, with reports indicating delays due to legal issues and reshoots. USA Today noted that the film’s distributor has not shown the movie to journalists ahead of release, and the cast has limited their public appearances amid ongoing controversies surrounding the project.

Early reactions to the film have been mixed. While Yahoo Entertainment highlighted praise for Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of his uncle — with some viewers describing his performance as “unbelievable” and saying it feels like watching “the real MJ” on screen — critics have expressed concerns that the film plays it safe by presenting a “greatest hits” version of Jackson’s life rather than delving deeply into complex aspects of his story.

These criticisms align with broader debates about how the film handles sensitive topics. Earlier reports from Spanish-language outlets indicated that some critics view “Michael” as avoiding uncomfortable truths about the singer’s life, with one characterization describing it as a film that “disimula las incomodidades del mundo real” (masks the discomforts of the real world).

The film focuses on Michael Jackson’s rise to fame from his early days with the Jackson 5 through his early solo career in the 1970s and 1980s. According to Variety, as cited in earlier reporting, the biopic explores his recovery from a 1984 pyrotechnics accident during a Pepsi commercial shoot and concludes with him on his “Bad” tour in the late 1980s.

Jaafar Jackson, son of Michael’s brother Jermaine Jackson, takes on the lead role, while Colman Domingo and Nia Long portray Michael’s parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson. Miles Teller plays lawyer John Branca in the film.

As the April 24 release date approaches, the biopic continues to generate conversation about its approach to depicting one of music’s most iconic and controversial figures, balancing family perspectives with critical reception and audience expectations.