Universal Pictures has released the official trailer for Michael, its upcoming biopic about the pop icon, aiming to reshape the narrative around one of modern culture’s most complex figures as renewed scrutiny of his legacy returns to public debate.
Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s nephew, takes on the lead role, while Antoine Fuqua directs from a script by John Logan. Colman Domingo and Nia Long portray Joe and Katherine Jackson, with producers Graham King, John Branca, and John McClain overseeing the project for Lionsgate.
The film traces Jackson’s journey from his early years with the Jackson Five to his transformation into a global cultural phenomenon. It focuses on both his artistic evolution and the creation of a singular public persona, with iconic moments such as the Moonwalk serving as pivotal milestones in a career that reshaped modern pop music. Michael is scheduled to premiere in Greek cinemas on April 23, with IMAX screenings also planned.
Yet the timing of the release is far from neutral. As Hollywood invests once more in the mythology of the “King of Pop,” another project revisits the darker controversies surrounding his life.
Channel 4’s four-part documentary series The Trial revisits Jackson’s 2005 criminal case, featuring previously unheard audio recordings in which the singer speaks candidly about his relationships with children. In one striking excerpt, Jackson is heard saying, “If you told me now, ‘Michael, you could never see a child again,’ I’d kill myself.” Elsewhere, he remarks, “Children just want to touch me and hug me,” and adds, “Kids end up falling in love with my personality. Sometimes that gets me into trouble.”
The series places these statements within the legal and historical context of the case, attempting to shed light on aspects it argues remained overlooked. A source cited in coverage of the program described Jackson’s attachment to children as “highly unusual and troubling,” suggesting that hearing his own words, in light of the abuse allegations, raises difficult questions about his mental state and intentions.
Jackson went on trial in California in 2005 over allegations he abused a minor at Neverland, facing charges including child molestation and witness intimidation. He denied the claims and was acquitted on all counts after a four-month trial, though public debate persisted.
The controversy resurfaced in 2019 with Leaving Neverland, in which Wade Robson and James Safechuck alleged abuse after previously defending Jackson. The documentary reignited global debate, while Jackson’s family and estate strongly rejected the accusations, citing his acquittal and his inability to respond.
The Trial revisits unresolved allegations against Michael Jackson, noting his admission that children sometimes stayed and slept in his home without parental supervision. In the series, a former public relations adviser says he came to believe the accusations, adding — as reported by The Telegraph — that there had been “a cover-up for many years.”
The program also revisits the 2005 case involving Gavin Arvizo, in which Jackson faced multiple abuse-related charges but was acquitted on all counts after a lengthy trial. Two decades later, Jackson’s legacy remains split between his musical achievements and the controversies that continue to fuel debate.
