The Michael Jackson biopic premiered in Slovakia on April 22, 2026, drawing notable attendees including singer Martina Schindlerová with her partner, host Martin Nikodým with his fiancée, and performers Vratko Sirági and Miro Jaroš.
The film, distributed by CinemArt SK, traces Jackson’s career from his early days with The Jackson 5, where he displayed exceptional talent as the youngest member, to his rise as a global pop icon under the strict management of his father Joe, portrayed by Colman Domingo.
Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew and son of Jermaine Jackson, portrays the King of Pop in the film, a casting choice described by producer King as immediately clear upon meeting the 29-year-old singer, actor, and dancer.
Jaafar underwent intense preparation, training daily with choreographers Rich and Tone Talauega who worked directly with Michael Jackson, despite initial claims that the role would require only a few days of preparation.
He described moments of physical exhaustion, saying his legs ached so severely he could barely stand, but continued because he wanted to capture Michael’s spirit and honor his identity as someone raised on the artist’s music and energy.
According to Topky, the production under director Antoine Fuqua was marked by extreme pressure, with crew members reporting exhaustion, conflicts, and collapses, likening the set to a battlefield where every detail had to be perfect or scenes were reshot repeatedly.
Some staff called it the most difficult project of their careers, whereas others said they had never experienced such pressure before, though they acknowledged the effort was justified by the final result.
The film highlights Jackson’s influence on music video as cinematic spectacle and his role in launching MTV’s era of widespread broadcasting of Black artists, noting he was the first musician in history to have top-ten hits across five decades.
It references his enduring commercial success, including the 1982 album Thriller — the best-selling album of all time with over 70 million copies sold — and the fact that in a single year, 35 million of his albums were sold posthumously.
The documentary This Is It is cited as the highest-grossing music documentary in cinema history, having broken box office records worldwide.
Jaafar noted that Michael’s daughter Paris and his niece disagreed with the film’s script from the outset and refused to participate in any way.
The soundtrack features performances of Jackson’s signature songs, including Beat It, Thriller, Billie Jean, and Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.
Why was Jaafar Jackson chosen to play Michael Jackson?
Producer Graham King stated he immediately knew Jaafar was right for the role after meeting him, believing he could authentically capture both Michael’s movements and spirit.
What challenges did the cast and crew face during filming?
Reports describe extreme physical and emotional strain, including exhaustion, injuries, and repeated reshoots under intense director Antoine Fuqua, with some calling it the most difficult project of their careers.