The story of Michael Jackson’s meteoric rise to pop superstardom is dramatized in the upcoming biopic Michael, in theaters April 24. Lionsgate, the studio producing the film, described it as a “cinematic portrayal” of Jackson’s “life and legacy” while tracking his musical journey and relentless pursuit of becoming “the biggest entertainer in the world.”

“Highlighting both his life offstage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before,” reads Lionsgate’s official press release for the film. “This is where his story begins.”

More than spotlighting Jackson’s lasting impact, the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, will also see the late pop idol’s own nephew stepping into his superstar role. Jaafar Jackson, son of Jackson’s older brother Jermaine, will bring the King of Pop to life on the big screen.

“I hope both long-time fans and brand-new fans come away feeling that essence, that energy, that love that Michael showed through his songs and performances,” Jackson said, according to promotional materials provided exclusively to Yahoo by Lionsgate. “The movie lets you see the Michael you’ve never seen — to see his creative process, to see more of who he was as a person and how he moved the world.”

Euphoria and Sing Sing actor Colman Domingo will portray Jackson’s father and Jackson 5 manager Joe Jackson. When it came to working with Jackson, Domingo had nothing but kind words for his young costar.

“Jaafar is something special. What fascinated me is that Jaafar didn’t just move like Michael moved, he tapped into why Michael moved that way, what every gesture meant to Michael. It's an alchemy between actor and real-life person I’ve very rarely seen before,” he told Lionsgate in promotional material.

Also included among the film’s notable cast is Nia Long, who will portray the King of Pop’s mother, Katherine Jackson. Jessica Sula will play Jackson’s older sister, La Toya Jackson, while the actress who will portray younger sister Janet Jackson has yet to be announced.

As for the rest of Jackson’s siblings, Michael will feature actors both younger and older, as the film spans decades across the pop star’s career.

• Jamal Henderson will portray Jermaine, and Jayden Harville will portray young Jermaine

• Tre Horton will portray Marlon Jackson, and Jaylen Lyndon Hunter will portray young Marlon

• Rhyan Hill will play Tito Jackson, and Judah Edwards will play young Tito

• Joseph David-Jones will play Jackie Jackson, and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre will play young Jackie

Michael has faced skepticism and controversy. After reading a draft of the script, Dan Reed, the filmmaker behind the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, which spotlights two men who alleged that Jackson sexually molested them as children, told the Times of London that it was a “complete whitewash” of the pop star’s life.

“It’s an out-and-out attempt to completely rewrite the allegations and dismiss them out of hand, and contains complete lies,” Reed told the outlet in 2024.

Jackson’s 27-year-old daughter, Paris Jackson, also shared her thoughts about the film last September. On her Instagram story, Jackson corrected comments Domingo made to People, in which he said that she supported the film. Jackson clarified her stance, adding that she had chosen to distance herself from the project.

Jackson claimed that she “read one of the first drafts of the scripts and gave my notes about what was dishonest/didn’t sit right with me, and when they didn’t address it I moved on with my life. Not my monkeys, not my circus.”

Jackson is currently embroiled in a legal battle with John Branca and John McClain, the executors of Michael Jackson’s estate, who are producing the biopic. In Michael, Branca will be played by Miles Teller.

Michael will be in theaters on April 24.