The King of Pop is back! Well, kinda. The first reactions to the much-anticipated Michael Jackson biopic Michael have hit social media after the film’s star-studded U.S. premiere in Los Angeles on Monday night.
The Antoine Fuqua-directed feature actually had its world premiere in Berlin on April 10, but social media reaction from American press has been limited. Full critics reviews for Michael drop on April 22, with the film released in theaters worldwide on April 24.
The first official biopic of the late Michael Jackson, Michael tells the story of the music phenomenon from his early Motown days performing with his brothers in the Jackson 5 to his breakout as a solo artist. There has been much speculation about whether the film will include the more controversial aspects of Jackson’s singular life.
The long-gestating Lionsgate film notably has the rights to use Jackson’s music, and is produced by Graham King, the man behind the four-time Oscar-winning Freddie Mercury/Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody which made a massive $911 million at the global box office.
Michael is led by Jaafar Jackson (Jackson’s nephew and son of Jermaine Jackson) who plays the singer during his transition from a member of an immensely popular boy band to becoming the era-defining solo artist the world fell in love with. The young Michael is played Juliano Krue Valdi. The cast also includes Colman Domingo as Michael’s father Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Michael’s mother Katherine Jackson and Miles Teller as John Branca, an entertainment lawyer and manager.
Lauren Farrier plays the music exec Suzanne de Passe, Kendrick Sampson plays legendary producer Quincy Jones, Larenz Tate plays the all-powerful Motown chief Berry Gordy, Liv Symone plays singer Gladys Knight and Kevin Shinick plays TV legend Dick Clark.
Michael’s brothers, both older and younger versions are played by: Jamal R. Henderson (Jermaine) and Jayden Harville (young Jermaine); Tre Horton (Marlon) and Jaylen Lyndon Hunter (young Marlon); Rhyan Hill (Tito) and Judah Edwards (young Tito); Joseph David-Jones (Jackie) and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre (young Jackie); with Jessica Sula playing Michael’s older sister La Toya Jackson. Janet Jackson does not feature in the film.
See the early social media reaction to Michael below.
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