Miles Teller was deemed unrecognizable after changing his look for the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael.
The “Top Gun” star shocked fans on Thursday when a first look image from the movie went viral, showing the actor with a longer hairstyle and prosthetic leg.
Teller, 38, stars in the film as John Branca, Michael’s former lawyer and manager.
“He looks so different!” one X user commented under Teller’s photo. Other social media users couldn’t help but compare the actor’s appearance to other stars like Journey frontman Steve Perry.
“Miles Teller’s wig might be the most controversial part of the movie,” one netizen reacted about X.
Meanwhile, another person joked, “I can’t believe they cast Miles Teller as the ‘white Michael Jackson’ in the movie.”
But it’s actually Michael’s nephew Jaafar Jackson who plays the titular pop legend in the widely anticipated film.
Jaafar, 29, the son of Michael’s brother Jermaine and Alejandra Genevieve Oasiaza, announced on Instagram that he has signed a contract to appear in a movie in 2023.
“Humbled and honored to bring Uncle Michael’s story to life,” he captioned a photo of himself dressed as his uncle. “To all our fans around the world, we hope to see you again soon.”
Deadline reports that the cast also includes Coleman Domingo as Michael’s father Joe Jackson, Nia Long as his mother Katherine Jackson, Jessica Sula as his sister LaToya Jackson, Larenz Tate as Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Laura Harrier as music pioneer Suzanne de Passe, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross.
The movie’s trailer was also released on Thursday after months of delays.
According to the official synopsis, the upcoming biopic “depicts the life of Michael Jackson beyond music, tracing his path from his discovery of extraordinary talent as the leader of the Jackson Five to the visionary artist whose creative ambitions fueled his relentless quest to become the world’s greatest entertainer.”
“Focusing on both his off-stage life and the most iconic performances of his early solo career, this film gives audiences a front-row opportunity to watch Michael Jackson like never before,” the description continued.
As previously reported, Jackson’s estate gave the music rights to the movie studio.
The King of Pop died in 2009 at the age of 50 after suffering a heart attack from an overdose of a deadly cocktail of prescription drugs.
The film was originally scheduled for release in October, but is now scheduled to hit theaters on April 24, 2026.
