The long-awaited biographical film Michael, starring Jaafar Jackson as his uncle, the late King of Pop, opens in South African cinemas on 24 April 2026, with Ster-Kinekor confirming the release as global excitement and controversy continue to build in the days before the premiere.
The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, traces Michael Jackson’s life from his childhood in the Jackson 5 during the 1960s through to his early solo career.
It had its world premiere in Berlin on 11 April 2026, where the cast gathered at the Uber Eats Music Hall before a global fan premiere event.
Who is in the cast?
Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew and the son of Jackie Jackson, steps into the role of the King of Pop in his feature film debut. Colman Domingo plays family patriarch Joe Jackson, while Nia Long portrays Katherine Jackson.
Miles Teller is cast as John Branca, Jackson’s long-time music executive, and Larenz Tate plays Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. Kat Graham takes on the role of Diana Ross, and Derek Luke portrays lawyer Johnnie Cochran.
The ensemble is helmed by director Antoine Fuqua, known for Training Day and The Equaliser, with producer Graham King, who has previously produced the award-winning Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
The Berlin premiere on 11 April 2026 drew extensive coverage across entertainment outlets including Billboard, Broadway World and Rotten Tomatoes.
What SA audiences need to know before buying a ticket
South African fans can book tickets now through Ster-Kinekor, which lists the film’s local release as 24 April 2026.
The production is rated for mature audiences and runs for approximately two hours and 20 minutes.
Michael is not a documentary. The film is a dramatic interpretation of Jackson’s life and has faced scrutiny from the estates of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two men who alleged in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland that Jackson sexually abused them as children.
The Jackson estate, which is involved in the production, has consistently denied those allegations, and Jackson was acquitted of separate child molestation charges in 2005.
Audiences should approach the film with that context in mind.
Why the biopic is generating massive search traffic in SA
Michael Jackson remains one of the best-selling recording artists in South African music history, and demand for the film has been building since the first trailer dropped in late 2025. News24 covered the exclusive A-list premiere event on 17 April 2026, noting that attendees “channelled MJ flair” in tribute to the pop icon’s signature style.
The film arrives one week after the Berlin premiere, giving South African audiences a relatively short window between the global event and the local release.
Official comment has been requested from Ster-Kinekor regarding any South African premiere or fan event planned for the week of release.
