At this point, the forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael should just change its name to Troubled Michael Jackson Biopic. It would make things simpler for those of us who have to write about it, anyway. The Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael was supposed to hit theaters last fall, but it reportedly needed emergency reshoots when the producers learned that the last act of the film, which they'd already shot, violated the terms of Jackson's out-of-court settlement with Jordan Chandler, the 13-year-old boy who accused Jackson of sexual abuse. Somehow, this cursed picture is now scheduled for an April release. It already had a teaser, and the full trailer hit the internet today.
The new Michael trailer features tons of footage of Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew, in the titular role, hitting his uncle's signature moves and poses. We also get to see a few seemingly CGI crowd shots, as well as a CGI version of Jackson's pet chimpanzee Bubbles, so this has a real shot of being the second-best pop-star biopic to feature a CGI chimpanzee.
Michael was made with the active participation of Jackson's estate, and Miles Teller plays Jackson's lawyer John Branca, who is one of the estate's executors and the movie's producers. Teller isn't in the trailer much, but he does high-five Jackson at one point. Also, Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, the family patriarch. The trailer has a bit of him as a stern exploiter, but it also suggests some early scenes where he's a dad who makes inspirational speeches. If you're already feeling dubious about this production, the trailer offers very little indication that you should feel otherwise. I'll still watch and write about this stupid thing! That's the job! Behold the trailer for yourself below.
Michael arrives in theaters 4/24.
