The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic from Lionsgate, titled Michael and starring the late King of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, is garnering huge expectations from the studio.
‘I think that’ll be the biggest movie we’ve ever had,’ said Lionsgate president of worldwide television distribution Jim Packer while speaking at a symposium for Gabelli Media & Entertainment Symposium, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Packer said that hype was high for the forthcoming film, which is which is directed by Antoine Fuqua with an expected premiere date of April 18, 2025.
‘The buzz that we’re getting every time a photo gets released is kind of crazy,’ Packer said of the motion picture, which comes on the heels of biopics about other musical icons such as Elvis Presley, Elton John and Freddie Mercury.
Packer said during the session that Lionsgate is going to focus on intellectual property and ‘produce [and] distribute film and TV’ projects.
The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic from Lionsgate, titled Michael and starring the late King of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, 27, is garnering huge expectations from the studio. Jafaar pictured during production of the film
Jackson was pictured performing in June of 1987
Packer said Lionsgate is going to focus on intellectual property and ‘produce [and] distribute film and TV’ projects.
Jaafar, who is the son of Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, has been busy in recent months with production on the motion picture.
He filmed scenes for the biopic last month in Los Angeles, recreating the iconic video for Thriller; in May in downtown Los Angeles; and in Encino, California in March.
A trailer for the film aired to a strong reaction in April at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Variety reported, as the preview was part of Lionsgate’s showcase to movie theater owners.
In the preview, a voice attributed to that of his mother Katherine Jackson could be heard telling her son, ‘There might be some people who think you’re different and that’s gonna make life a little harder for you.
‘But you never were like anyone else – Michael, you have a very special light – so make that light shine onto the world.’
A voice attributed to Michael Jackson is heard saying, ‘When I’m not onstage everything feels foreign to me.’
Ahead of the cinematic showcase, the film’s producer Graham King said the movie would be ‘an inside look at the most prolific artist who ever lived’ as ‘there are elements of drama, intrigue and emotional states.’
Jackson was pictured onstage on London in 1987
The film is expected to cover all aspects of Jackson’s life and career, including his legal issues. He faced trial in Santa Maria, California in 2005 in connection with claims of child sexual abuse, of which he was acquitted
King said he’s been working on this film for seven years and conducted hundreds of interviews in an effort to get the best insights for the forthcoming project.
The film is expected to cover all aspects of Jackson’s life and career, including his legal issues.
Among them include the 1993 lawsuit he settled accusing him of sexual abuse of a child, which he eventually settled. He also faced trial in Santa Barbara, California in 2005 in connection with separate claims of child sexual abuse, of which he was acquitted.
King said the film will ‘get into all of it,’ adding that ‘behind the unrelenting scrutiny and the accusations and the spotlight, he was simply a man – a man with a very complicated life.’
King said people told him he would be challenged to find an actor to fill the role, which he feels Jaafar has done splendidly.
‘When I started out, everyone said, “You’ll never find anyone to play him,”‘ King said.
The movie also stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long in the roles of Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine Jackson. Rounding out the cast include Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate and Jessica Sula.
