First Look at “Michael”: Jafar Jackson Steps Into His Uncle’s Legendary Shoes

Antonie Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, boasts two very key distinctions: one is Fuqua himself, a veteran director in command of his art, and the second is Jafar Jackson, the star of the film and Michael Jackson’s nephew. Lionsgate has released the first look at Michael, which showcases a few of Jafar’s silky smooth moves and snapshots of Jackson’s deathless songs.

The iconic songs that the teaser offers snippets of include “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” the first single from his 1979 album “Off the Wall,” and one of the early hits that made it clear that this former member of the Jackson Five was going to be a mega-star as a solo musician. In fact, it was the second single from “Off the Wall” to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and led to Jackson earning his first solo Grammy Award. There would be many more. Not for nothing, “Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough” is widely considered one of the greatest disco songs of all time.

We also get a brief glimpse of Jackson’s immortal video for “Thriller,” which was possibly the moment that he became the most famous musician in the world. The teaser is mostly contained inside the studio, with Jackson’s mentor, iconic music producer Quincy Jones (Kendrick Sampson), reminding him that in the studio, he needs to keep his feet still.

Michael boasts a formidable cast, including Colman Domingo as his father, Joe Jackson; Miles Teller as John Branca, Michael’s long-time attorney and business advisor; Kat Graham as Diana Ross; Jessica Sula as La Toya Jackson, and Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe, a music executive who was instrumental in his early career.

“The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world,” the synopsis reads. “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.”

Check out the teaser trailer below. Michael moonwalks into theaters on April 24.

Featured image: Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in MICHAEL. Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur