The most-talked-about Michael Jackson biopic is finally here, and audiences are already buzzing, not just about the performances, but about something they heard that stopped them mid-seat. The film has been years in the making, with a $155 million budget and extensive filming at the real Neverland Ranch. However, the show stealer was the use of Michael Jackson's voice, for which Michael's music supervisor recently revealed the details about.

The voices in Michael are not just Jaafar Jackson's; they are a carefully engineered blend of his live vocals and Michael Jackson's original recordings. Music Supervisor John Warhurst, an Oscar winner for Bohemian Rhapsody, led the process. Jaafar performed every song live on set, giving the visual canvas its authenticity. Those takes were then layered with Michael's master recordings in post-production.

"We think people want Michael to be a part of it," Warhurst said to The Hollywood Reporter.

He then added, "It’s their performances, with Michael over the top of it," emphasizing that Jaafar's live energy anchors every musical moment.

Michael is now officially released and distributed by Lionsgate. The film runs 2 hours and 7 minutes, rated PG-13. It is playing across IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and MX4D formats. Global pre-sales have already crossed $150 million, with over one million opening day tickets sold. Early reviews praise Jaafar Jackson's transformative performance, though critics remain divided on whether the script tackles Michael Jackson's drama with enough depth.

While the screen belongs to Jaafar Jackson, the real question is who exactly the faces are sharing it with him?

Meet the cast bringing Michael to life on screen

The film Michael boasts an award-laden ensemble. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, with Nia Long as Katherine. Miles Teller portrays attorney John Branca, and Larenz Tate plays Motown founder Berry Gordy. Kendrick Sampson steps in as Quincy Jones, Kat Graham as Diana Ross, and Derek Luke as Johnnie Cochran. Juliano Krue Valdi plays the young Michael during the Jackson 5 era, delivering his own blend of live and archival vocals.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the film spans nearly four decades, from Gary, Indiana, to global superstardom. It covers the 'Thriller,' 'Bad,' and 'Dangerous' eras, the creation of iconic music videos, intense media scrutiny, and Michael Jackson's legal battles. Crucially, no AI was used in recreating the vocals, purely analogue engineering. Michael stands as cinema's most technically intricate tribute to the King of Pop.

What are your thoughts on blending a legend's real voice with an actor's performance? Does it honour the artist or blur the line? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Shraddha Priyadarshi

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui