Controversial Michael biopic’s new trailer gives detailed look at Colman Domingo’s Joe Jackson

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Universal and Lionsgate have just dropped a new trailer for the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic. The trailer offers the first glimpse of Colman Domingo and Nia Long portraying Michael’s parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson.

Antoine Fuqua, the director behind The Equalizer movies, helms this new biopic, with the script penned by John Logan, who also worked on Penny Dreadful. The first trailer, released last November, featured Jaafar Jackson – Michael Jackson’s nephew – portraying the iconic singer. It also offered quick looks at the actors playing key figures like Domingo, Long, and Miles Teller as Michael Jackson’s lawyer, John Branca.

The latest trailer offers a closer look at Michael Jackson’s parents and the other actors in the film, including Kat Graham as Diana Ross. The movie Michael follows his journey to fame, from his beginnings with the Jackson 5 to his death in 2009 at age 50.

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From the start, the film has faced criticism due to allegations of child sexual abuse against its subject, Michael Jackson. While he was accused in 1993, the case was settled privately and Jackson never faced criminal charges.

After the release of the documentary Living with Michael Jackson in 2003, Michael Jackson was formally accused of wrongdoing. He denied all allegations and, in June 2005, a jury found him not guilty on every charge.

Following Michael Jackson’s death in 2009 – which authorities determined was the result of his doctor’s negligence – choreographers Wade Robson and James Safechuck brought forward lawsuits alleging he had sexually abused them as children.

The original lawsuits weren’t able to move forward because of time constraints. But when the allegations resurfaced in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, public opinion about Michael Jackson shifted, leading to a legal battle between his estate and HBO.

Look, I’ve seen all the stuff people say about Michael Jackson, but his family has always said those claims about him and kids just aren’t true. They’ve consistently denied everything, and that’s what they’ve always maintained.

The film itself has been the subject of its own controversy, too.

At a 2025 fundraising gala for AIDS research held during the Venice Film Festival, Domingo shared with People magazine that Michael Jackson’s children, Paris and Prince, were very encouraging of the movie.

Paris immediately responded to the claims, posting on Instagram: “[Colman], please don’t tell people I was helpful on a movie set when I wasn’t even involved! That’s really strange.”

She told Vanity Fair that after reading an early version of the script and sharing her concerns about parts that felt untrue or off, she decided to pursue other opportunities when those issues weren’t resolved.

“Not my monkeys, not my circus. God bless and godspeed.”

In additional videos, Paris explained she only provided feedback on the initial version and wasn’t otherwise involved.

Honestly, I was so frustrated to hear that they basically ignored her feedback! She said they told her the production wasn’t even going to try to incorporate her notes, so she just decided to step away. She felt like it wasn’t her place to keep pushing if they weren’t even going to listen, and I totally get that – it’s not her project to fight for if they weren’t interested.

Michael is set to be released on 24 April 2026.

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2026-02-02 20:51