Behind the Scenes of the Movie ‘Michael’
Plot Synopsis written by Michael Lee
*All Media used in this article is courtesy of Lionsgate
Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate
Official Trailer: ‘Michael’ (2026)
Plot Synopsis
Photo Courtesy of Lionsgate
The Jackson 5 was formed in 1967 when steel worker Joseph Jackson organized his five sons into a musical group, featuring his youngest son, Michael, as the lead singer. Following a period of intense and disciplined rehearsals, the group began performing publicly and eventually secured a contract with Motown via Barry Gordy.
Their massive success, including chart-topping albums and sold-out national tours, enabled the family to relocate from Gary, Indiana, to an estate in Encino, California, while Motown founder Berry Gordy identified Michael as having significant solo potential.
Michael ‘First Look’ Featurette | Video Courtesy of Lionsgate
Transitioning to a solo career, Michael collaborated with producer Quincy Jones for his 1978 Epic Records debut, Off the Wall. Despite the record's success, Michael faced friction with Joseph, who claimed credit for his children's achievements. The album would further trust Michael into the spotlight.
Encouraged by his close friend and bodyguard, Bill Bray, Michael asserted his independence by hiring John Branca as his manager in 1981 and formally dismissing his father via fax. During this time, Michael also chose to undergo rhinoplasty due to insecurities regarding his looks.
While balancing charitable visits to children's hospitals, Michael developed concepts for his 1982 follow-up album. Inspiration for the track "Beat It" came from a report on gang violence, and after considering various names, Michael settled on the title Thriller after being inspired by televised horror movies.
Michael ‘Billie Jean Performance‘ Film Clip | Video Courtesy of Lionsgate
As Thriller shattered sales records, Michael and Branca pressured CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff to secure music video rotation on MTV, which the network granted only after Yetnikoff threatened to withdraw all CBS content from their platform.
Michael ‘Becoming Michael’ Featurette | Video Courtesy of Lionsgate
In 1984, during Michael's peak success, Joseph negotiated with promoter Don King for a Jacksons reunion tour, which included a PepsiCo sponsorship contingent on Michael's participation.
Michael ‘Before the Big Screen‘ Featurette | Video Courtesy of Lionsgate
Disaster struck during the filming of a Pepsi advertisement when pyrotechnics caused Michael's hair to catch fire, leading to severe nerve damage and third-degree burns. Michael and Branca successfully sued PepsiCo, subsequently donating the entire settlement to the burn center that handled his recovery.
Michael ‘Antoine‘ Featurette | Video Courtesy of Lionsgate
Following his recuperation, Michael embarked on a final tour with his brothers. At the concluding performance at Dodger Stadium, he publicly declared that the Jacksons would no longer perform as a group, effectively ending his professional relationship with Joseph. By 1988, Michael was performing as a solo artist at Wembley Stadium during his Bad World tour.
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