Michael (2025)

Michael (2025)

Michael is an upcoming American biographical musical drama film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, based on the life of the American singer and dancer Michael Jackson. It stars Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, in his film debut, alongside Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, Jessica Sula, Liv Symone, Kevin Shinick, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Kendrick Sampson and Derek Luke.

Michael is scheduled for release in the United States on April 18, 2025, by Lionsgate, and by Universal Pictures internationally.

Premise

The film follows the life and career of Michael Jackson.<ref name="Lionsgate" />

Cast

• Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson
  • Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael
• Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson
• Nia Long as Katherine Jackson
• Miles Teller as John Branca
• Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe
• Jamal R. Henderson as Jermaine Jackson
  • Jayden Harville as young Jermaine
• Tre Horton as Marlon Jackson
  • Jaylen Lyndon Hunter as young Marlon
• Rhyan Hill as Tito Jackson
  • Judah Edwards as young Tito
• Joseph David-Jones as Jackie Jackson
  • Nathaniel Logan McIntyre as young Jackie
• Kat Graham as Diana Ross
• Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy
• Jessica Sula as La Toya Jackson
• Liv Symone as Gladys Knight
• Kevin Shinick as Dick Clark
• KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Bill Bray
• Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones
• Derek Luke as Johnnie Cochran

Production

Pre-production

In November 2019, it was announced that Graham King had secured the rights to produce a film about Michael Jackson, with John Logan set to write the screenplay.<ref name="LoganNov2019" /> In February 2022, Lionsgate acquired the distribution rights.<ref name="Lionsgate2" /> Casting began in June, with Kimberly Hardin as the casting director. Production was expected to start in 2023.<ref name="BackstageJun2022" /> In January 2023, Antoine Fuqua was announced as the director,<ref name="FuquaJan2023" /> and Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson was announced to play Jackson.<ref name="JaafarJan2023" /> In January 2024, the newcomer Juliano Krue Valdi was cast as a young Michael,<ref name="KrueValdi" /> as well as Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson,<ref name="Domingo" /> and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson.<ref name="Long" /> Also that month, Miles Teller was reported to be in talks to play one of Jackson's attorneys.<ref name="TellerJan2024" /> In February, Teller was confirmed to play John Branca.<ref name="TellerFeb2024" /> The cast for the rest of the Jackson 5 were announced later that month,<ref name="Jackson5Cast" /> with Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, Jessica Sula, Liv Symone, Kevin Shinick, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, and Kendrick Sampson being added to portray Suzanne de Passe, Diana Ross, Berry Gordy, La Toya Jackson, Gladys Knight, Dick Clark, Bill Bray, and Quincy Jones in March.<ref name="Harrier" /><ref name="GrahamTate" /> In April 2024, Derek Luke was added to the cast as Johnnie Cochran.<ref name="Luke" /> The screenplay includes content regarding child sexual abuse accusations against Jackson, with King saying that he wanted to "humanize but not sanitize and present the most compelling, unbiased story".<ref name="VarietyUnbiased" />

Filming

Principal photography was scheduled to begin in mid-2023 over 80 days in Santa Barbara and was projected to spend $120 million on crew wages and vendors, according to the California Film Commission.<ref name="LATimesMar2023" /> Filming was delayed in September 2023 due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.<ref name="FilmingDelay" /> Filming eventually began on January 22, 2024,<ref name="ReleaseDate" /> with Dion Beebe serving as the cinematographer. Barbara Ling serves as the production designer, and Marci Rodgers as the costume designer.<ref name="Crew" />

Release

Michael will be distributed by Lionsgate in the United States on April 18, 2025,<ref name="ReleaseDate2" /> and by Universal Pictures internationally, except for the United Kingdom and Japan.<ref name="UniversalIntlRelease" /> A surprise first look was shown to theatre owners at CinemaCon on April 10, 2024, to positive reception.<ref>Rubin, Rebecca; Lang, Brent (April 10, 2024). "Michael Jackson Biopic Trailer Electrifies CinemaCon With Moonwalking King of Pop, 'Thriller' Performance and More". Variety. Retrieved April 12, 2024.</ref>

External links

• Template:IMDb title