This April 22, Antoine Fuqua’s film Michael is released in French theaters. This highly anticipated feature retraces the early life of superstar Michael Jackson, from his childhood to his artistic breakthrough, including his time with the Jackson Five.
Michael immediately establishes itself as one of the most ambitious musical biopics of the decade. The film was directed by Antoine Fuqua, known for Training Day (2001), the Equalizer trilogy, the boxing drama Southpaw, and the modern western The Magnificent Seven. A filmography marked by intensity that he maintains in Michael, released on April 22, 2026, while adding a more linear narrative where emotion and music play a major role.
With a runtime of 2 hours and 7 minutes and a screenplay by John Logan, the film has a major asset: Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson. Son of Jermaine Jackson and nephew of the international icon, the singer, dancer, and actor lands his first major role here. Despite limited experience in film and music, he was chosen for his strong resemblance to Michael and his almost innate artistic talent, reinforcing the project’s authenticity.
Alongside him, Colman Domingo (Rustin, Euphoria, Fear the Walking Dead…) plays Joe Jackson, the family patriarch. Nia Long (Boyz n the Hood, The Best Man) portrays Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, while Miles Teller (Whiplash, Top Gun: Maverick) plays John Branca, the singer’s lawyer.
What is the film about?
Michael adopts a classic biopic structure, chronologically retracing the rise of young Michael Jackson. The film opens with his childhood in Gary, in a family where music is ever-present, marked by his father’s strict authority. It then follows the formation of the Jackson Five, with their early success at Motown, before his solo career and the artistic explosion of the 1970s and 1980s.
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Featured photo : DR
