Biopics about popular musicians have become incredibly popular lately, with films like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, and Elvis receiving both critical praise and box office success. The newest film in this trend is Michael, a movie about the life and career of Michael Jackson, starting with his beginnings in the Jackson 5 and continuing through his rise to fame as a solo artist in the 70s and 80s.
Biographical films about musicians have become very popular lately, with several receiving Academy Award nominations. Because these movies tell similar stories, they often share common themes and storytelling approaches, even while focusing on the individual lives of the artists they portray. With the upcoming release of the film Michael, a producer with experience in this genre is discussing these commonalities.
In an exclusive interview with MovieWeb, producer Graham King, who also worked on the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody, talked about making the Michael movie. He’s aiming to recreate the emotional connection Bohemian Rhapsody had with viewers, and shared some particularly moving moments from Michael Jackson’s life that he believes will resonate with audiences.
I see a lot of parallels between Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson in how their music united people. The success of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ proved that people were eager to return to cinemas for a shared experience – to relive memories, enjoy the music, and witness a captivating performance. I immediately thought we could achieve the same with Michael’s story, showing a side of him the world hadn’t seen. We specifically wanted to include lighthearted moments, like Michael introducing his chimpanzee, Bubbles, and capturing the family’s reactions – especially Joe’s amusement. These kinds of scenes, I felt, would be truly entertaining. Having known Michael and his family since the early 80s, I was deeply passionate about bringing this story to life, and finding the right actor to play him felt like a major breakthrough.
Both Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury lived full, impactful lives despite dying at relatively young ages – Mercury at 45 and Jackson at 50. Beyond their similar ages at the time of their deaths, both artists captivated millions worldwide through their music and incredibly engaging performances.
Initial reactions to the movie Michael are very positive, with Jafaar Jackson convincingly portraying his uncle in a moving story. While it’s too early to say if it will be as popular as films like Bohemian Rhapsody, director Antoine Fuqua seems to have created a captivating movie for the big screen.
Michael will debut in theaters on Apr. 24, 2026.
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2026-04-19 17:07