Colman Domingo Explains Why the Michael Jackson Biopic Skips the Allegations

The upcoming music biopic on Michael Jackson traces the icon’s path from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his solo superstardom, focusing on the making of the artist rather than every chapter of his life. Juliano Krue Valdi plays the young Michael, with Jafaar Jackson stepping in as the adult Michael for the majority of the film—a nod to the family connection, since the singer was reportedly his uncle.

Despite the ambitious scope, critics haven’t been warm toward Michael. The film currently sits at about 37% on Rotten Tomatoes after roughly 130 reviews, reflecting mixed-to-negative reception. The timeline runs from the 1960s up to Jackson’s 1988 Bad era, deliberately sidestepping the most controversial stretch of his life, including the 1993 allegation of sexual assault, the 1993–94 settlement, subsequent investigations in 2003, and the 2005 trial where Jackson was acquitted.

Colman Domingo explains why the biopic avoids addressing those later chapters. On the Today Show, Domingo framed the project as Michael Jackson’s origin story. He suggested that the movie presents an intimate portrait of who Michael was, seen through his own eyes, and that a potential sequel could explore the later, more controversial material.

Domingo and Nia Long, who plays Katherine Scruse-Jackson, emphasize that a sequel hasn’t been confirmed, but they acknowledge the possibility. As audiences weigh the film’s box-office prospects, many are already looking ahead to what might come in future projects, including the broader slate of 2026 movie releases.