‘Michael’ Biopic New Trailer Introduces Colman Domingo’s Joe Jackson And The Moments That Made The King Of Pop

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Feb 2

Written By Jonathan P. Moustakas

Lionsgate’s latest trailer for ‘Michael’ frames the rise of the King of Pop through family pressure, ambition, and the formidable presence of Joe Jackson.

Lionsgate has released a new official trailer for Michael, the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, placing renewed focus on the singer’s early family life and the uncompromising influence of his father, Joe Jackson.

Colman Domingo stars as Joe Jackson, depicted as both patriarch and manager, delivering the film’s most striking line: “In this life, you’re either a winner or you’re a loser.” The moment frames the Jackson household as a crucible of ambition, discipline, and pressure that would ultimately shape the world’s most famous pop star.

Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, makes his feature debut portraying the King of Pop, capturing his early charisma, vocal talent, and physicality as he rises from child performer to global icon. The trailer also highlights Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, offering a counterbalance to Joe’s severity with moments of maternal encouragement and emotional grounding.

The release follows a strategic marketing push by Lionsgate, which teased the trailer with a television spot during the Grammy Awards ahead of its full rollout. An earlier teaser released in November shattered records, generating more than 116 million views in 24 hours — the most-viewed trailer debut ever for a music biopic and the largest in Lionsgate’s history.

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Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael traces Jackson’s journey from his formative years in the Jackson 5 to his unprecedented solo success, including the era-defining impact of Thriller. The film is set for a wide theatrical and IMAX release on April 24, after several date shifts from its originally planned 2025 debut.

The ensemble cast includes Miles Teller as longtime attorney John Branca, Kat Graham as Diana Ross, Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones, Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe, and Juliano Krue Valdi as a young Michael. Lionsgate will handle domestic distribution, with Universal Pictures overseeing the film’s global rollout.