Michael Jackson Biopic: Jaafar Nails Lead Role

0:00It's April 23rd, this is entertainment and celebrity news today pop culture powered by AI. The Michael Jackson biopic called Michael is already dividing folks left and right. Critics from big outlets are split some, call it a straight up greatest hits package, while others dig its soulful vibe and killer soundtrack. It's hitting theaters on Friday, April 24th, 2026, and everyone agrees on one standout, 29-year-old Jafar. Jackson nails the lead role. This films the only one greenlit by Jackson's estate, and they've shaped it heavy on the music legacy. They cut out scenes from the 2005 trial, and those child abuse claims that haunted him, swapping and fresh stuff instead. That move has some reviewers labeling it sanitized, saying it skips the messy personal side for a smoother ride to his pop-king era. Still, Jafar, whose Michael's nephew and domain son, steals the show with spot-on moves and voice. Fans are buzzing hard, nostalgia pulling them in despite the critic's split.

1:03Early numbers project $60 million to $70 million for opening weekend, so expect pack houses when it drops, proves the king of pops, poll-ank fading anytime soon.