The first trailer for Antoine Fuqua's highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, has reached a remarkable milestone in less than 12 hours. The King of Pop continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Within the first six hours of its release, the teaser trailer for Lionsgate’s upcoming Michael Jackson biopic amassed over 30 million views, making it one of the studio’s biggest trailer launches ever.
The film is scheduled to premiere in theaters on April 24, 2026. Fans are already excited to see Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, step into his iconic uncle’s shoes.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Chair Adam Fogelson shared details during a recent earnings call, noting that this trailer launch is 50% stronger than the six-hour debut of John Wick: Chapter 4.
“People have been waiting a long time for this,” Fogelson said. “I think people are stunned with Jaafar’s [Jackson’s] performance.”
The biopic is produced by Graham King, known for Bohemian Rhapsody, reuniting him with a large-scale musical storytelling project. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan (known for Gladiator and Skyfall), the film aims to blend spectacle with a human story.
Michael seeks to present “a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop.”
Author’s summary: The Michael Jackson biopic’s trailer achieved a huge viewership in under 12 hours, setting high expectations for the film’s April 2026 release and showcasing Jaafar Jackson’s acclaimed performance.