First Photo From Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Michael’ Unveiled As King Of Pop’s Nephew Takes The Stage

Lionsgate and Universal have dropped the first image from Michael, Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic that hits theaters in 2025.

The photo — see it in full below — shows Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop performing “Man in the Mirror” from the legendary 1992-93 Dangerous World Tour.

Kevin Mazur shot the image. He captured images of Michael Jackson tours in the 1980s and ’90s and the rehearsals as he prepared to entertain the world with his “This Is It” concerts. 

“​​When I arrived for my first day on the set of this movie, I was so excited – it was like the first time I went on tour to shoot Michael Jackson,” said Mazur. “When I walked onto the set, I felt like I’d gone back in time and I was walking into the stadium to shoot the tour. Seeing Jaafar perform, I thought, ‘Wow, it is Michael.’ The way he looks and acts, his mannerisms, everything – he’s Michael Jackson. For anyone who didn’t have the chance to see Michael perform live during his lifetime, this is how it was.”

Said the film’s producer Graham King: “With Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael. He embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could.”

Fuqua added: “We have assembled an incredible team of artists for this project – hair & makeup, costumes, cinematography, choreography, lighting, everything – and some who knew and worked with Michael are reuniting for this film. But most importantly, it’s Jaafar who embodies Michael. It goes beyond the physical resemblance. It’s Michael’s spirit that comes through in a magical way. You have to experience it to believe it.”

Michael hits theaters on April 18, 2025. Oscar winner Graham King of GK Films (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Aviator, The Departed) produces off of 3x Oscar nominee John Logan’s script. The movie is also produced by John Branca and John McClain, the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate. Lionsgate is distributing the film stateside and in Japan, while Universal Pictures has it in all offshore territories.