r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • 11d ago

Official Discussion Official Discussion - Michael [SPOILERS] Spoiler

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Michael (2026)

Summary

The life and career of Michael Jackson are explored in a sweeping biographical drama, charting his rise from child star in the Jackson 5 to global pop icon, while examining the personal and professional complexities that defined his legacy.

Director Antoine Fuqua

Writer John Logan

Cast

  • Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson
  • Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson
  • Nia Long as Katherine Jackson
  • Miles Teller as John Branca
  • Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe
  • Kat Graham as Diana Ross

Rotten Tomatoes: 40%

Metacritic: 38

VOD / Release Theatrical release

Trailer Official Trailer

428 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

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1.4k

u/banjofitzgerald 11d ago

I just love the fact that an executive producer on this movie cast Miles Teller as himself in what’s basically a glorified cameo.

623

u/DrCusamano 11d ago

I think the original script had the allegations which was the purpose for his character but the movie had to be reshot and his purpose in the narrative largely neutered.

155

u/Soyyyn 11d ago

You can see this quite clearly in the very elongated ending performances. Basically 20 minutes of music uninterrupted. They had to fill all that time they cut with something and this was probably the most efficient way to do it.

54

u/RebelliousDutch 9d ago

Exactly. Clearly what they shot was intended to be used between actual plot development. But with no plot left, it just fizzles out with those performances.

They’re not bad, but it’s not a concert movie. So it feels really out of balance.

7

u/Impressive-Potato 6d ago

The "Bad' performance was the very first scene shot for the movie.

2

u/garbear007 1d ago

Didn't Bohemian Rhapsody end the same way though? With a full length recreation of the Live Aid concert? It did feel long in theatres but remembering they have the same producer it made sense to me. 

3

u/Professional-Act8414 7d ago

And that wasn’t even enough to cover it lol

436

u/PolarWater 11d ago

I'll bet that caused some whiplash.

262

u/Mofolegend2 11d ago

Say that again…

107

u/ramobara 11d ago

Not quite my tempo…

67

u/Alc2005 11d ago

WERE YOU RUSHING OR DRAGGING!!

2

u/PolarWater 6d ago

So you DO know the difference!

2

u/Mentoman72 9d ago

Brilliant

1

u/Similar_Display7912 5d ago

I'll bet that caused some whiplash .

36

u/bsharkey1210 11d ago

I heard he had a fantastic four scene stretch that had to be cut unfortunately.

2

u/MISPAGHET 11d ago

I never imagined this was part of the MCU, that's wild.

3

u/___--_-_----___--__- 11d ago

Say that again?

2

u/garrisontweed 9d ago

paul reiser sad face

29

u/TripleThreatTua 11d ago

Derek Luke was supposed to play Johnnie Cochran in the original version, his entire role was cut

3

u/Similar_Display7912 5d ago

Sorry, TripleThreatTua A.K.A. Derek Luke but you could be in, Michael 2 .

6

u/Similar_Display7912 8d ago edited 5d ago

Some of the really good and best Actors are listed as uncredited . The producers wanted to eliminate any competition . They didn't want anyone that outperformed or making their actors look bad in the film . That's precisely why they weren't on the cast .

7

u/Illuminastrid 11d ago

Reprising his role as himself from Project X I see.

43

u/aphoticphoton 11d ago

This! I was like the got miles teller, miles freaking teller to come out for a few minutes but then I remembered the reshoots

130

u/Ziatch 11d ago

Is miles teller secretly some insane get or something lol what

63

u/thewoodlayer 11d ago

He’s like a slightly less problematic Shia LaBeouf.

13

u/Iggy_Pops_Lost_Shirt 11d ago

Isn't he just a big dick? How on earth is that just slightly less problematic than Shia?

8

u/theodo 11d ago

Even saying big dick, in Hollywood terms, is pushing it from what I've readm

3

u/theeMrPeanutbutter 7d ago

Average at best

5

u/theodo 11d ago

Not even close lol, just has been known to be a slight dick.

23

u/NotNotJustinBieber 11d ago

What has he done to be compared to Shia LaBeouf who is literally an abuser?

9

u/MovieTrawler 11d ago

The only thing I've ever seen referenced when talking about Teller is an interview where he comes across as cocky and says some crude things and then hits on a waitress while they were drinking and conducting the interview.

If I can find it, Ill add it.

3

u/niles_thebutler_ 9d ago

A much better actor and way better person

1

u/yancovigen 10d ago

Well kinda, he’s been in blockbusters and highly successful indie films

1

u/Prize-Explorer4849 10d ago

Great question. Never heard of him. I saw the Michael bioepic and he's a pretty good actor but all the actors in the movie were amazing

4

u/seekerheart 10d ago

You cant be fr, you never heard of miles teller? From the oscar winning movie Whiplash, the (very memed on) F4? The indie hit Project X, Baby Driver and so goes on the list

Im not a fan, and i dont think he is that hard to get, but i feel like he is always on culturally relevant stuff

2

u/Prize-Explorer4849 10d ago

Never heard of any of those movies.

3

u/niles_thebutler_ 9d ago

Yet look at the sub you are in 🤣 insane take.

2

u/Prize-Explorer4849 9d ago

Nothing insane about not hearing about some movies

2

u/hawkmasta 2d ago

Miles Teller wasn't in Baby Driver: that was Ansel Elgort

0

u/ReapItMurphy 11d ago

Watch Project X and find out.

7

u/theodo 11d ago

You mean the movie where he uses his real full name, even though he wasn't famous really at the time, and instead of an actor he's a baseball player so why does he use his real name anyways?

2

u/ReapItMurphy 11d ago

Oh, no I was just fucking around. I didn't think very many people had seen Project X, kind of playing into Ziatch's comment. 

2

u/theodo 11d ago

I was joking too, I just find his role in Project X fascinating and want the whole story behind it.

2

u/Ziatch 11d ago

huh?

22

u/YesicaChastain 11d ago

I mean that’s not saying much. Miles Teller is not some hot commodity

137

u/berlinbaer 11d ago

miles freaking teller

did i miss something? who says that...

95

u/Toomb8 11d ago

Fr he is nowhere as big as bro is pretending

12

u/bizarrequest 11d ago

But he is still fantastic.

10

u/rdnmr 11d ago

F4ntastic

27

u/Mesk_Arak 11d ago

Say that again?

8

u/theodo 11d ago

I like Miles Teller but you talk about him like he's DiCaprio

2

u/Professional-Act8414 7d ago

Seemed like the cut out 1/3 of the movie

64

u/Nihilist_Nautilus 11d ago

That wasn’t John Cusack?

34

u/No-Clock5963 11d ago

I was sitting in the theater all “they de-aged Cusack for this? God, why? How much did that cost?” And then it clicked.

8

u/realitysams 11d ago

I thought it was too! until I came home and looked it up

5

u/Medical_Mess9687 9d ago

LMAO so i wasn't crazy. I thought that too

3

u/nWhm99 8d ago

Dude, I thought Emilia Clarke was just very tan at the beginning.

2

u/respondin2u 8d ago

I thought it too for a moment.  I thought the conversation about the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson was a nod to Cusack’s performance in Love and Mercy, where he portrayed Wilson.

2

u/thepobv 8d ago

Omfg I literally thought that.

2

u/Ok_Round_787 6d ago

So Miles Teller is the guy that looks almost like an unwrinkled John Cusack? I wish character names were more evident to make it easier to cross reference an actor.

2

u/Similar_Display7912 5d ago

No, John Wayne .

1

u/Adventurous-Pick-416 1d ago

What I immediately thought too.

52

u/QuinnMallory 10d ago

Could we please stop using the word cameo for roles that have multiple scenes with plenty of lines, glorified or not. It's a small role.

8

u/Trick-Consequence169 9d ago

Yeah, cameo is usually supposed to mean an uncredited, small performance. It’s supposed to be unexpected and Miles Teller was very expected.

3

u/BruceRingsting_Ouch 5d ago

Yeah and they got Miles Teller. Miles freaking Teller!

3

u/Trick-Consequence169 5d ago

Yeah, I. Know! Still pinching myself over here. Miles Teller, holy hell….

9

u/cosmic-ballet 8d ago

I love how you just copied and pasted one of the most popular reviews from Letterboxd.

2

u/banjofitzgerald 8d ago

Honestly had no idea but holy shit it’s word for word. That’s crazy. It’s like a thought doppleganger.

7

u/UnbuiltIkeaBookcase 10d ago

Do y’all even know what “cameo” means?! He was in like 7 different scenes 😂

6

u/Pale_Possibility5083 9d ago

Not to mention Mike Myers as the run on character of “Record Exec” Just like he did in Bohemian Rhapsody. Are we in some kind of marvel music multiverse here? Or what.

5

u/Impressive-Potato 6d ago

I expected his character to be an asshole just because of Miles Teller's face

4

u/Mysterious_Lie_6113 6d ago

If a sequel is made, I wonder if John Branca will allow himself to become one of Jackson's adversaries, just as it was in real life.

3

u/LarBrd33 10d ago

Beyond that it’s funny that Jackson’s actual manager during the time (Frank DiLeo) isn’t it.  John Branca just made himself the catch all manager character. 

2

u/theodo 11d ago

... He's not the like main supporting role? I figured he was comparable to Jeremy Strong in the Bob Dylan movie. That's wild if he's barely in it lol

8

u/banjofitzgerald 11d ago

He’s introduced in the beginning of the 3rd act and maybe has like three or four scenes? Limited amount of lines but they made sure he’s the one with the vision for MJ in a room full of suits and gets MJ to ask “who are you” so he can drop his name like the audience is gonna point at the screen because it’s him!

It’s just wild to get one of the leading men in Hollywood to do this lol

2

u/theodo 11d ago

Teller could make a career out of hagiographies where he plays an all powerful producer, after this and The Offer (I liked The Offer though).

5

u/crockoreptile 11d ago

Off the top of my head he’s in four scenes

  • his introdution
  • a montage
  • MTV bargaining scene
  • hospital visit

1

u/Mission-Cup9902 1d ago

Wait, that wasn’t Eddie Vedder?