New York – The first trailer for Michael, Lionsgate’s highly anticipated biopic on Michael Jackson, has taken the internet by storm, proving once again that the legacy of the “King of Pop” continues to resonate across generations. Within just 24 hours of its release, the trailer amassed an astonishing 116.2 million views worldwide, setting a new record for the most-viewed trailer for a music biopic in history.
According to Collider, the trailer has also become Lionsgate’s most-watched trailer during its first 24 hours online. It surpassed the previous titleholder, John Wick: Chapter 4, by a staggering margin, collecting 50 percent more views within the first six hours of being released.
“People have been waiting a long time for this,” said Lionsgate’s group chair Adam Fogelson. “I think people are stunned with Jaafar’s performance,” he added, referring to Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, who plays the lead role.
The trailer has left behind other major music biopic releases by a significant margin. For comparison, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour trailer received 96.1 million views within its first day, Bob Marley: One Love achieved 60.1 million, Bohemian Rhapsody gathered 57.6 million, and A Complete Unknown, the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic, saw 47.2 million views in the same time frame.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, Michael features a screenplay by three-time Academy Award nominee John Logan. The film, set to release on April 24 next year, stars Jaafar Jackson alongside Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, and Miles Teller as John Branca.
The trailer re-creates some of Michael Jackson’s most iconic moments, including the legendary Thriller era. In one scene, the voice of Kendrick Sampson, portraying Quincy Jones, says, “I know you’ve been waiting a long time for this. The tracks are made. The songs are ready. Let’s take it from the top.”
The stage is indeed set. Fans now eagerly await to see Michael’s story shine on the big screen once more.
