The new Michael Jackson biopic. Why now?

Today in Focus

The Guardian

News, Daily News

4.6 • 5.9K Ratings

🗓️ 23 April 2026

⏱️ 30 minutes

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Summary

A new blockbuster film about the controversial singer could make $1bn worldwide. Owen Myers and Lanre Bakare explain what it says about Jackson’s legacy. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:09.0	Today.
0:10.5	The new Michael Jackson Viapick.
0:13.0	Why now?
0:17.0	So these are limited edition fedoras, and you can only get them in selected cinemas,
0:28.7	but they were sold out of this one.
0:30.5	So if you can get down fast enough, get your fedora and get your microphone.
0:35.6	It's Wednesday morning outside the BFI IMAX
0:38.4	Theatre in central London. Michael Jackson fans are out in full force to watch the first
0:43.9	screening of Michael. This is the Blockbuster Biopic hoping to break records and make a
0:49.5	billion dollars worldwide. I've been waiting for the stay since I was about 80 years old,
0:56.2	so I had to come as soon as the early preview started. We've been waiting for the stay since I was about 80 years old, so I had to come as soon as the early preview started. We both seen the movie in Berlin, so actually our second time getting
1:01.6	to see it, but it's just a powerful film and a great movie for all ages, for kids, for the elderly,
1:09.8	everyone, all different races.
1:12.2	Despite a string of one-star reviews, there is excitement.
1:17.0	Anticipation.
1:18.3	Just have all these songs in my head.
1:20.9	Don't want to be a boy, you want to be a man.
1:24.3	She's got to get them out.
1:26.6	Ready whenever you are, Michael.
1:28.3	Woo!
1:29.3	If it's a big year for Michael Jackson fans, it is a mammoth one for his estate.
	...

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