'Daunting' Michael Jackson biopic wows CinemaCon with first footage of Jaafar Jackson

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read
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LAS VEGAS – The first glimpse at the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic was a real thriller.

On Wednesday, movie theater owners at CinemaCon got an exciting sneak peek at director Antoine Fuqua's "Michael" (out April 18, 2025), which stars the King of Pop's nephew Jaafar Jackson as the music legend and is currently in production.

"Michael, you have a very special light. So let your light shine unto the world," MJ's mom Katherine (Nia Long) says in voiceover. The first footage showed the icon with the Jackson 5 (with Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael) and then in concert doing all the smooth moves fans know and love. (And in case you're wondering, Jackson has his uncle's look and dancing down pat.)

Who is playing Michael Jackson in the movie?

Jaafar Jackson plays his uncle Michael Jackson in the upcoming biopic "Michael."
Jaafar Jackson plays his uncle Michael Jackson in the upcoming biopic "Michael."

Set mostly to "Man in the Mirror," the first footage of Jaafar Jackson covered different musical moments but also family life and some of the darker bits as well, such as being overwhelmed in the public eye and being rushed to the hospital.

In a Lionsgate presentation, producer Graham King ("Bohemian Rhapsody") promised the biopic would cover Jackson's musical successes, including more than 30 songs, and his controversies. "There are biopics, and then there is Michael," said King, who called him "an enigma full of eccentricities."

Jackson "was a simple man who lived a complicated life," King added. "When you mention his name, everyone has an opinion of him." And so far, putting his life onscreen has been "a daunting task to say the least."

The "Michael" cast also includes Oscar nominee Colman Domingo as family patriarch Joe Jackson, Miles Teller as attorney John Branca, Kat Graham as Diana Ross and Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy.

Domingo told USA TODAY earlier this year that he was "still exploring what I love about" about Joe Jackson "and the one thing I've found so far is how strong he was."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Jackson movie reveals Antoine Fuqua's thrilling first footage