Michael Jackson’s Friend Speaks Out About the New Biopic

How accurate will the new Michael Jackson movie really be?

A man who spent more than 30 years close to Michael is already raising that question.

Canadian filmmaker Bryan Michael Stoller is not a random critic. He directed Michael in Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls, which became the star’s last scripted movie role. He shared sets, late night talks, and private moments with the man behind the legend. Now he is speaking up about the upcoming biopic Michael, due out April 24, 2026.

Stoller says Casting Jaafar Jackson choice feels perfect. In his view, Jaafar captures something real about Michael’s spirit, and he believes Michael himself would have loved that decision.

What worries him is everything we cannot see in the trailer. He wants the film to reflect the Michael he knew. A man he insists was “1,000% innocent” of the worst accusations.

Reports claim that a whole storyline tied to the 1993 allegations was removed after behind the scenes legal talks with the accuser’s family. If that is true, what else has been changed or softened?

When Michael hits theaters next April, will fans be watching the real story? Or a version that leaves the most important truths off camera?

BEING MICHAEL JACKSON’S FRIEND | Matt Fiddes

For anyone wondering why Bryan Michael Stoller’s voice matters so much, this movie quietly answers the question. Miss Cast Away is the adventure comedy he directed with Michael Jackson in one of the star’s rare film roles as “Agent MJ.” Their scenes were shot at Neverland Ranch, on Michael’s own private grounds, which shows how much trust there really was.

Michael Jackson and Beauty Queens Crash on an Island | Adventure Comedy | Full Movie | Miss Castaway

We have already seen Michael in Miss Cast Away, relaxed and playful in front of a friend’s camera. To understand why Stoller feels “won over” by the casting, it helps to watch Jaafar in his own world first. Got Me Singing shows his voice, his movement, and how naturally he carries echoes of his uncle without looking like an impression.

Jaafar Jackson – Got Me Singing