The final trailer for Michael debuts ahead of its release this month
The Reshoots
It will be interesting to see what the final product for Michael will be. When the notion of a Michael Jackson biopic was announced, there is so much baggage that came with it. Michael Jackson was possibly the most beloved pop star on the planet in the 80s and 90s. The musician would go from immensely loved to immensely controversial in a short span. So, how does a movie depict a story such as that, along with the illustrious early career that had a tragic childhood tied to it?
As epic and polarizing a story the movie could have been, it was recently reported that legal troubles and a general decision was made to more so celebrate the pop icon’s music. Michael would undergo $15 million in reshoots to sway the film’s narrative away from inevitable scenes dealing with Jackson’s allegations. The word is that the movie “leans heavily into Jackson’s music, featuring one showstopper after another, and away from his sometimes bizarre personal behavior.”
The Trailer
Now, Lionsgate has released the final trailer. The marketing has been an interesting one for sure. It’s been looking like the focus has been placed mostly on Jaafar Jackson’s performance rather than the examination of Michael’s life. The trailers thus far have even made it seem like the movie is actually about the making of his Thriller album and we wouldn’t even go into his life in the 90s.
It was once rumored that the film was going to be two parts, which made sense, but we will see when Michael hits theaters on April 24. With so much material cut from the film, producer Graham King has expressed his hope that a sequel could be made. Of course, that all depends on how well Michael performs. Early tracking suggests the film could open at more than $55 million at the domestic box office, and the studio hopes it could wind up with over $700 million worldwide.
The Project
Jaafar Jackson takes on the monumental task of portraying Michael Jackson, and the film also stars Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, with Miles Teller and Colman Domingo.
The official synopsis from Lionsgate reads,
“MICHAEL is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. 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. 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.”
Michael comes from producer Graham King, the man behind Bohemian Rhapsody, the Freddie Mercury biopic that grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide and took home several Oscars. The other producers on the film include John Branca and John McClain.
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