Michael Trailer – and a Personal Reminder of Why His Music Still Hits Different
I was introduced to Michael Jackson very, very early in life, in a country where his music was officially banned almost overnight.
Yet somehow, Thriller still owned the streets.
No, I never tried to do the Moonwalk.
I was never a mad fan, not the poster-on-the-wall kind. But I liked his music, and more importantly, I liked how his music and music videos felt. They carried emotion, tension, beauty, and something unsettling all at once. Even now, decades later, that feeling hasn’t faded.
The newly released official trailer for Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, was enough of a reminder. So was the teaser before it. There’s something about Michael Jackson’s presence that still lands differently, no matter how many years pass. The trailer traces his journey from the Jackson 5 days to global superstardom, mixing iconic performance moments with quieter, more human beats. It doesn’t scream nostalgia. It lets it linger.
Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, steps into the role, and from what the trailer shows, the resemblance isn’t just physical. The movement, the restraint, the weight of being watched all the time. Early reactions online have been largely positive, especially around casting, though many viewers are hoping the film doesn’t turn into a glossy tribute and instead allows room for complexity.
The film also stars Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as John Branca, with production led by Graham King, known for Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 24, 2026.
I know I’ll be waiting for this film.
Will I watch it in a theater? I’m not sure.
Even though I feel like I probably should.
