The biographical picture (biopic), “Michael,” of Grammy award-winning artist Michael Jackson, which comes to theaters April 24, is already expected to break records, according to recent online fan engagement.
According to a recent article from BoxOffice Pro, the viewership of the film’s first teaser, in its first 24 hours, was the largest of any trailer in Lionsgate history and of any musical biopic. In that same article, the film is anticipated to have a record-breaking opening weekend at the box office, with a predicted opening range of $80 million to $90 million.
If “Michael” achieves this, the film will surpass previous box office highs for musical biopics during the opening weekend set by 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton,” which earned $60 million, and 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which earned $51 million.
Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will be starring in the film as the late singer. Although the actor didn’t initially have an interest in acting, he understood the importance and responsibility that came with portraying the “King of Pop.”
“I never dreamed of being an actor or even thought of playing him, but I knew it was a calling,” said Jaafar in a behind-the-scenes video for the film. “Embodying Michael, I really had to earn the role and prove to the filmmakers that I was capable of becoming Michael. Essentially, it was starting at the roots and finding the authenticity.”
The film is written by Oscar nominee and Tony winner Joe Logan and produced by Graham King, who previously worked on “Bohemian Rapsody.”
For more information on the film and how to buy tickets, visit https://michael.movie/.
Frank Sterle Jr. • Apr 20, 2026 at 10:55 pm
Superstardom’s brightness can be blinding, especially when it becomes legendary. While many fans of a scandalized big celebrity seem content to indefinitely remain in denial, many others will cavalierly shrug and continue consuming the celebrity’s product.
Nowadays, some fans will even make anonymous threats, often via social media, to scare off potential threats to the star’s reputation. The celebrity simply is that much distinguished. Michael Jackson’s questionable history of having young boy sleepovers at his Neverland Ranch comes to mind as a significant example. There were the enormous organized vicious attacks via various media on anyone, including big TV producers, who would dare suggest that the legendary pop-music artist was a pedophile at heart. He simply was — and largely still is — that great and greatly loved.
As a pre-broadcast-era artist example of fandom denial or cavalier dismissal, many people to this day have difficulty accepting, or even caring, that acclaimed author Lewis Carroll — writer of the Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass children’s novels — had prepubescent girls pose nude for his photography-hobby camera, albeit with parental permission. He was, and basically still is, that much greatly admired.
Five or six years ago, I asked four peers whether they were aware of this rather unorthodox photography hobby enjoyed by author Lewis Carroll, penname of Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. All four had no idea. One, though, became agitatedly apologetic and diversionary in her defense of the author: “So what? Woody Allen had sex with his [adopted] daughter!” Another peer replied similarly.
Astounded, I felt sure they would not be so dismissive had they viewed just a few of the many shots of unnaturally seductive poses involving small child subjects. The ones I saw in a Great Books documentary left me disgusted. Yet it seems few know or even care about the real person being celebrated, including the late yet still great Michael Jackson.
Frank Sterle Jr. • Apr 20, 2026 at 10:52 pm
Superstardom’s brightness can be blinding, especially when it becomes legendary. While many fans of a scandalized big celebrity seem content to indefinitely remain in denial, many others will cavalierly shrug and continue consuming the celebrity’s product.
.
Nowadays, some fans will even make anonymous threats, often via social media, to scare off potential threats to the star’s reputation. The celebrity simply is that much distinguished. Michael Jackson’s questionable history of having young boy sleepovers at his Neverland Ranch comes to mind as a significant example. There were the enormous organized vicious attacks via various media on anyone, including big TV producers, who would dare suggest that the legendary pop-music artist was a pedoph-le at heart. He simply was — and largely still is — that great and greatly loved.
.
As a pre-broadcast-era artist example of fandom denial or cavalier dismissal, many people to this day have difficulty accepting, or even caring, that acclaimed author Lewis Carroll — writer of the Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass children’s novels — had prepubescent girls pose nu-e for his photography-hobby camera, albeit with parental permission. He was, and basically still is, that much greatly admired.
.
Five or six years ago, I asked four peers whether they were aware of this rather unorthodox photography hobby enjoyed by author Lewis Carroll, penname of Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. All four had no idea. One, though, became agitatedly apologetic and diversionary in her defense of the author: “So what? Woody Allen had se- with his [adopted] daughter!” Another peer replied similarly.
.
Astounded, I felt sure they would not be so dismissive had they viewed just a few of the many shots of unnaturally seductive poses involving small child subjects. The ones I saw in a Great Books documentary left me disgusted. Yet it seems few know or even care about the real person being celebrated, including the late yet still great Michael Jackson.
.
“[Lewis Carroll] would ask mama if it was alright for him to photograph the little girl; and later on he would ask if he could photograph her in a costume; and eventually he would work his way up like a lover to, if he could photograph the child in the n-de,” stated retired Temple University English professor emeritus Donald Rackin, in a Great Books documentary (a copy of which I own). “We know that of course he was refused sometimes, but it was astounding how many mothers said, ‘go ahead’.”
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Acclaimed writer and commentator Will Self stated the conundrum thus: “It’s a problem, isn’t it, when somebody writes a great book but they’re not a great person.”