Michael Film Premiere in Milan: First Look at the Biopic on Michael Jackson’s Early Years

On April 24, 2026, the biographical film “Michael” premiered in theaters across the United States, marking the first major cinematic portrayal of the life of Michael Jackson. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the film traces Jackson’s journey from his early years with the Jackson 5 in the 1960s through his rise as a solo artist, culminating in the era of his 1987 Bad tour.

The film stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, in the lead role as the adult Michael Jackson, marking his acting debut. Juliano Krue Valdi portrays the young Michael Jackson, also making his first appearance on screen. The supporting cast includes Nia Long, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, Mike Myers, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.

Produced by Graham King, John Branca, and John McClain, “Michael” was developed over several years, with initial reports of the project emerging in November 2019 when Graham King secured the rights to produce a film about Jackson’s life. John Logan was attached to write the screenplay at that time. Lionsgate Films officially announced the project in February 2022, and Antoine Fuqua was confirmed as director in January 2023. Casting began shortly thereafter, with Jaafar Jackson being cast in the lead role during that month.

Principal photography commenced in January 2024 following delays caused by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and concluded in May 2024. However, after a clause was identified in a legal settlement, references to the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson were removed from the script. This prompted revisions to the third act and subsequent reshoots, which took place in June 2025.

The film had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival on April 10, 2026, before its wide release in the United States on April 24, 2026. Distributed by Lionsgate Films domestically and Universal Pictures internationally, “Michael” runs for 127 minutes and was produced on a budget estimated between $165 million and $200 million.

Despite the significant investment and high-profile involvement of industry veterans, the film’s box office performance has been modest, with reported earnings of $31 million worldwide as of its opening window.

The musical elements of the film were overseen by composer Lior Rosner, while cinematography was handled by Dion Beebe. Editing was carried out by a team including John Ottman, Harry Yoon, Conrad Buff IV, and Tom Cross.

In Italy, the film was released a day earlier, on April 22, 2026, distributed by Universal Pictures Italia, where it was promoted as the true story of the “King of Pop,” highlighting Jackson’s beginnings with the Jackson 5 and his subsequent solo career that brought him unprecedented global success.