Janet Jackson declined to be portrayed in the new biopic of her brother, Michael, according to La Toya Jackson.
The film, titled Michael, was released in UK cinemas this week (April 22) and charts Michael Jackson’s life from his early days with the Jackson Five, up to the peak of his success following the release of the album ‘Bad’. Michael Jackson is played by his nephew, Jaafar, and the movie was made with the cooperation of the late singer’s estate.
Most of the Jackson family who were alive during that time are portrayed, although pop icon Janet is notably absent.
During the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Monday (April 20), La Toya Jackson spoke to Variety about why her sister was left out of the movie. “I wish everybody was in the movie,” she said. “She was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.” The director of the film, Antoine Fuqua, told the outlet: “I have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know it’s OK. She’s supportive of Jaafar and that’s what matters.”
La Toya Jackson says Jaafar Jackson’s performance in #MichaelMovie is so convincing, she and her family would think they were “watching Mike.” pic.twitter.com/40bCXQAS7U
— Variety (@Variety) April 21, 2026
Michael is predicted by industry website Deadline to open to a $150million (£111million) worldwide opening weekend at the box office, a record for a music biopic. The most successful overall gross for the genre is 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which made $910.8 million (£674million) and was produced by Graham King, who is also behind Michael.
Recently, it was revealed the film had to undergo extra reshoots to change the ending, after it was discovered past legal challenges faced by Jackson could not be portrayed on screen. Elsewhere, Fuqua questioned the integrity of his past accusers, saying that while he doesn’t know the truth of what happened, “sometimes people do nasty things for money.”
