The trailer features Jaafar recreating several key moments from his iconic uncle’s career.

Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar channels King of Pop, shoots ‘Thriller’ video in first footage of movie Michael

The trailer features Jaafar recreating several key moments from his iconic uncle's career.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

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November 6, 2025 10:28 a.m. ET

Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in 'Michael'. Credit:

Glen Wilson/Lionsgate

Jaafar Jackson is moonwalking into his uncle Michael Jackson's shoes in the first footage from the upcoming biopic *Michael*. **

The Antoine Fuqua–directed film has unveiled its first teaser trailer, which features Jaafar recreating several key moments from his uncle's personal life and career. That includes his early childhood years, multiple Grammy wins, and experience recording his legendary 1982 album, *Thriller*. **

Jaafar, who is the son of Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson, transforms into the King of Pop not only through channeling his signature looks, but also by perfectly executing his unforgettable choreography in multiple onstage performances. In one clip, he is the spitting image of Michael as he dons his skeletal makeup and red leather jacket to record the "Thriller" music video.

Jaafar Jackson as his uncle Michael Jackson in 'Michael'.

The movie, which will dance its way into theaters next April, tells the story of Michael’s life "beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson 5 to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world."**

It continues, "Highlighting both his life off stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins."

See cast of Michael Jackson biopic and the real people they're playing

Colman Domingo 'completely' transforms into Joe Jackson for 'Michael' biopic

Accompanying Jaafar on screen is Colman Domingo as Michael's father and manager, Joe Jackson; Miles Teller as his lawyer and manager, John Branca; Nia Long as Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson; and Kat Graham as fellow Motown star Diana Ross. Juliano Krue Valdi plays the younger version of Michael. **

The film is produced in part by Graham King, who helped bring Freddie Mercury's life to the big screen in the Oscar-winning 2018 biopic *Bohemian Rhapsody*.

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Last year, Fuqua said the biopic is not just a glitzy portrayal of Michael's life and will "get into all" of the controversy surrounding the singer, too. **

"There's biopics and then there's Michael Jackson," Fuqua told CinemaCon audiences in April 2024. "An enigma, full of eccentricity, electrifying talent, arguably the most famous entertainer to ever cross the planet. And yet behind the unrelenting scrutiny and the accusations and the grinding media spotlight, he was simply a man. A man who lived a very complicated life."**

The director continued, "The movie will get into all of it, including over 30 songs, recreating some of [his] most iconic performances on stage as well as his life out of the public eye."**

That same year, Domingo also weighed in on the controversy surrounding the film, telling *Entertainment Tonight *that it will "shine a different light on Michael Jackson."**

"He's a complicated human being,” the actor said, "and I think what the film will do is tell the story of a very complicated person."

*Michael *moonwalks into theaters on April 24, 2026. Watch the trailer above.**

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Movies”