Michael Jackson’s Family Not Feeling Holographic ‘Resurrection’ Of MJ For London Premiere Being Planned Next Year

With all the hoopla surrounding the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, “Michael,” being a major draw, it has been reported that Universal Studios wants to promote the movie with a holographic “resurrection” show at the O2 Arena in London. This news has upset the Jackson family, who label the plans “totally ghoulish.”

According to Radar Online, Jackson’s family is not feeling the prospect of the event taking place, given that MJ was practicing to perform 50 sold-out shows just three weeks before his death. They feel it is another attempt to exploit the likeness of the man who was named “The King of Pop.”

The family is NOT willing to allow any exploitation of MJ to take place without a fight.

“Michael was a perfectionist. The idea of digitally resurrecting him for marketing purposes would have horrified him. It feels like they’re trying to profit off his death all over again. They feel as if this attempt to resurrect him, in a show focusing on one of the hardest periods of his life, is totally ghoulish.”

Allegedly, the show will feature a holographic display of MJ during some of his final performances to be presented at the London stadium. The significance of having the “concert” at the O2 Arena is based on the residency he signed up to do in 2009, for a series of shows titled “This is It.” In practicing for the run of shows scheduled, it’s been a theory that all the pressure placed on him so he would perform at the expected level that fans have come to anticipate may have increased his use of the propofol tranquilizer (along with anti-anxiety benzodiazepines lorazepam and midazolam) prescribed to him to help relieve pain he was experiencing. He died June 25, 2009, of an overdose of the drugs, 18 days before the start of the O2 residency.

Universal is reportedly in talks with Cineworld about the possible show, and executives have allegedly stated that they believe the setting will provide “emotional symmetry” for the project. An unnamed source disclosed that “It was always Michael’s dream to perform at the O2. Bringing the film there would close that circle. Producers insist they are doing this to honor him, not exploit him.”

However, a family insider has told the media outlet that the arena should represent “a place of triumph” rather than a sideshow, with the expected “resurrection” of MJ planned.

“The O2 should have been a place of triumph, not a sideshow. To turn that stage into a ghostly spectacle is beyond distasteful.”

The excitement for the film has reached high levels based on the number of views the trailer got within 24 hours of its release. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the trailer garnered 116.2 million views, making it the most-viewed trailer for any music biopic in history, based solely on the first 24 hours.

Will you be watching “Michael: when it debuts on April 24, 2026?