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The King of Pop will soon be moonwalking onto the big screen in the controversial Michael Jackson biopic, the first teaser for which dropped Thursday and shows his nephew Jaafar Jackson taking on the late superstar\u2019s complicated legacy.<\/p>\n
The preview for Lionsgate\u2019s \u201cMichael\u201d fits multiple nods to iconic pop culture moments in its roughly one-minute length.<\/p>\n
Helmed by \u201cTraining Day\u201d and \u201cThe Equalizer\u201d director Antoine Fuqua, the film also stars Colman Domingo<\/a> and Nia Long as Joe and Katherine Jackson, Kat Graham as Diana Ross<\/a>, and Miles Teller as John Branca<\/a>, entertainment lawyer and co-executor of The Michael Jackson Estate.<\/p>\n The clip begins with a young Michael recording in the studio, as \u201cWanna Be Startin\u2019 Somethin’\u201d begins to play, before pivoting to a shot of a stadium and the artist walking backstage.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a snippet of a young Jackson Five-era Michael (Juliano Krue Valdi), laughing with his family, before it cuts back to the 1984 Grammys, the night he took home a historic eight trophies<\/a>. That was also when Jackson sported an equally memorable sequined blue suit<\/a> and the now-notorious white glove<\/a>.<\/p>\n The trailer also shows Jaafar\u2019s take on the \u201cThriller\u201d phenomenon<\/a> as the beat of \u201cBillie Jean\u201d can be heard.<\/p>\n Produced by \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d Oscar winner Graham King, \u201cMichael\u201d was approved by the Jackson estate<\/a> \u2014 which is co-producing through Branca and John McClain \u2014 and has been touted as \u201can in-depth portrayal of a complicated man<\/a> who became the King of Pop. It will bring to life Jackson\u2019s most iconic performances as it gives an informed insight into the entertainer\u2019s artistic process and personal life.\u201d<\/p>\n Lionsgate picked up the film in 2022, though its future came into question was alleged earlier this year to have violated<\/a> a multimillion-dollar settlement with Jordan Chandler<\/a>, who accused the pop star of child molestation<\/a> in the 1990s.<\/p>\n The biopic is set to hit theaters on April 24.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n