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The first official look at Michael, Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic, arrived on February 13, 2024: a production image of Jaafar Jackson portraying his uncle, photographed by Kevin Mazur. It is an official set image—not evidence of an unscripted moment—and its release introduced the film’s central transformation.
What the first-look image shows
The image shows Jaafar Jackson in character as Michael Jackson. ComingSoon reported on February 13, 2024, that Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International released the image and credited photographer Kevin Mazur. See the original first-look report.
Although it is sometimes described as a behind-the-scenes image, the description needs care: it is an official production image from the film’s set, not a candid record of an unplanned event. Mazur’s credit connects the image to the photographer’s work documenting Jackson’s career as well as to the film’s production.
Why the image drew attention
Mazur described the experience of arriving on set in the February 13, 2024 report: “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.” He also recalled, “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.” Those are Mazur’s impressions of Jaafar’s performance, not a studio guarantee that the film reproduces every detail of Jackson’s life.
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What the film covers
Michael is directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by John Logan and stars Jaafar Jackson. Lionsgate’s official synopsis says the story follows Jackson from the discovery of his talent as lead of the Jackson 5 through his solo career and ambition to become “the biggest entertainer in the world.” The premise therefore reaches beyond a single tour or hit record to chart a career that began in a family group and developed into a global solo phenomenon. Lionsgate’s film page lists the official film information and synopsis.
Release timeline and later production images
The 2024 image is distinct from later promotional material. Lionsgate’s November 8, 2025 announcement set the U.S. theatrical date for April 24, 2026, with Lionsgate handling U.S. distribution, Kino Films in Japan and Universal elsewhere. That announced U.S. date has passed as of October 2026; the announcement alone does not establish current availability on a particular streaming service or in every territory. Lionsgate also said the teaser received 116.2 million global views in its first 24 hours, citing WaveMetrix. That figure refers to the teaser—not to the reach of the 2024 still. Read Lionsgate’s release announcement.
Universal Music Japan separately reported five making-of images on May 27, 2026, including Jaafar Jackson at dance rehearsal and in costume associated with the “Thriller” video. The report gave Japan’s release date as June 12, 2026; that local date should not be treated as a worldwide release date. Universal Music Japan’s image report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Official home-video edition and soundtrack
Lionsgate Limited lists a U.S. Collector’s Edition with two discs—4K and Blu-ray—and a 50-page behind-the-scenes photo book, featurettes and collectible artwork. The listed edition is rated PG-13 for some thematic material, language and smoking, and has a running time of 127 minutes. These are the details on the official product page; they do not establish retail price or stock. View the Collector’s Edition details.
Sony Music also announced Michael: Songs From the Motion Picture, a 13-song soundtrack with 2-LP variants. It is a music release rather than a visual companion to the set image. See Sony Music’s soundtrack announcement.
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