Michael Jackson: here's the new trailer for the biopic “Michael” tracing the King of Pop's rise

Oceanic crowds, paternal control, artistic metamorphosis and media frenzy: the new trailer for "Michael" packs the key chapters of Michael Jackson's story into just a few minutes. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the biopic traces the King of Pop's rise from his childhood with the Jackson 5 to his world tours, dwelling on his relationship with his mother Katherine, the overbearing presence of his father Joe, and the artistic emancipation sparked by his encounter with Quincy Jones.

Played by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, in his film debut, the movie will hit theaters on April 23, distributed by Universal. The cast includes Colman Domingo as father Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine, Kat Graham as Diana Ross, Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones, Miles Teller as attorney John Branca, and Juliano Krue Valdi playing Michael as a child.

The trailer offers a rapid journey toward global fame, alternating the euphoria of success with the harsher family dynamics. Central to it is the relationship with his father, both the driving force and the jailer of his early success: an authority that Michael will choose to challenge in order to launch his solo career, claiming his own creative independence. This is the turning point the film dwells on most, portraying the artist torn between family loyalty and the need for personal fulfillment.

Watch the new trailer for "Michael" below.

Produced on a budget of over $155 million, the project reportedly originally included the theme of the first molestation allegations from 1993, later dropped after legal issues and a substantial rewrite of the film. That very shadowy chapter, however, returns to the spotlight in a new four-part British docuseries, "Michael Jackson: The Trial", airing from February 4 on Channel 4, which promises new revelations through previously unheard audio recordings dating back more than twenty years.

Fuqua defends the choice of Jaafar not only on the basis of physical resemblance, but on what he claims is a deeper affinity with Michael's "spirit". The challenge remains balancing the imitation of a universally recognizable visual and physical repertoire with a credible portrayal of the character's humanity.

The cast also includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, alongside a number of key figures from the music industry and the family's history, underlining how Michael's success was the result of a complex system, not just individual talent.

Doubts remain, though. The family's direct involvement in the production fuels suspicion that the film may sidestep the most controversial aspects of Jackson's story, particularly the child molestation allegations that culminated in the 2005 trial, which ended in acquittal. Given the new testimonies and documentaries on the way, it seems unlikely that "Michael" will choose to openly confront that dark chapter, preferring instead to focus on the artistic legacy and rise of one of pop music's most influential figures.

Meanwhile Michael Jackson keeps setting records, even four decades after his commercial peak. With "Thriller" returning to the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, Jackson has become the first artist to place a single in the top ten across six different decades. Before him, the record belonged to Andy Williams, who reached the top 10 for five consecutive decades until his death in 2012. The track, the title track of the album "Thriller" (Epic Records, November 29, 1982, produced by Quincy Jones), climbed from No. 32 to No. 10 on the chart dated November 15, nearly 40 years after its release. The achievement further cements the status of the best-selling album of all time, credited with around 70 million copies sold worldwide. Jackson's first entry into the Billboard top 10 dates back to 1971 with "Got To Be There". Over the course of his career he has racked up 31 top-ten singles, 13 of which reached number one. "Thriller" originally peaked at number four: today it reaches a new high, helped along by strong seasonal momentum tied to Halloween, a period in which the song dominates playlists, parties and themed programming.

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