The Michael Jackson Biopic: Where Do We Stand?

With the buzz of this year’s Oscars still lingering and the collective memory of “slapgate” (yes, we’re still talking about it) from the previous year, all eyes in the Michael Jackson world are now laser-focused on the upcoming biopic. So, where do we stand?

Let’s be honest—attempts at Michael Jackson biopics have come and gone. Some better than others. The most notable success in my opinion? The Jacksons: An American Dream—a television series that did something rare: it humanized Michael. It told the story of the Jackson family’s rise, from 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana, to the bright lights of Hollywood. It placed Michael within the context of his family, which—let’s face it—is not without its controversies.

But this new biopic is different. It’s not just another small-screen retelling. It’s big budget, Hollywood-backed, and already creating waves.

I recently started reading Scripts of Blackness by Noémie Ndiaye, a deep dive into 16th- and 17th-century performances of blackness, and it got me thinking: How will blackness be performed in this biopic?

On the plus side, we have Antoine Fuqua directing. A black director? That’s already a step in the right direction. But Fuqua’s bread and butter is hard-hitting thrillers—think Training Day (2001), a film so gritty and intense that it practically rewrote the modern crime thriller. And I have to admit—I loved it.

Fuqua’s background in music videos also adds an interesting layer to the mix. Remember Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”? That was Fuqua. He knows how to blend music, visuals, and storytelling. Plus, he’s the guy behind The Equalizer (2014) and its sequel—a director who knows how to frame a black protagonist with power, presence, and impact.

But Michael Jackson? He’s unlike any protagonist Fuqua has tackled before. The layers of his identity, artistry, and global stardom require more than just gritty storytelling—they require nuance, balance, and cultural understanding.

Then came the big announcement in January 2023: the film is titled Michael, with Jaafar Jackson (Michael’s own nephew!) cast in the lead role. A Jackson playing Jackson? That could either be a stroke of genius or an impossible standard to live up to.

And then there’s Graham King—the producer behind massive hits like The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018). If you’re wondering why that last one matters, just remember—Bohemian Rhapsodymade back its budget many times over and turned Rami Malek into an Oscar-winning Freddie Mercury.

King has a reputation for assembling top-tier talent and building immersive, character-driven worlds. He was also co-executive producer on Gangs of New York (2002), a film dripping with historical drama, tension, and raw emotion. He doesn’t just make movies—he crafts cinematic experiences.

Which brings us to the biggest question of all: Will Michael Be More Than Just a Cradle-to-Grave Biopic?

Biopics about music legends tend to fall into predictable patterns: the rise, the peak, the fall, the redemption (or tragedy). They are often paint-by-numbers, safe, and overly polished. But Michael Jackson’s story? It’s far too complex, too layered, and too culturally significant for a by-the-book retelling.

I’m hoping that King and Fuqua bring that early 2000s Hollywood cinematic grace—the depth, the drama, the tension, the truth. That they go beyond the clichés, beyond the headlines, and beyond the oversimplified narratives. That Michael is a film that does justice to the legend and the man behind it.

Michael Jackson isn’t just a musician. He’s a cultural revolution. His life story is not just about music but about race, artistry, fame, identity, and the price of being an icon.

The stakes for this film? They couldn’t be higher.

So, as Michael inches closer to production, we wait. We speculate. And, more than anything, we hope—that it will be a biopic worthy of the King of Pop.

Let’s see where this goes.