TELLER TO PINCH-HIT FOR BRANCA

Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick, The Offer, Whiplash) will play mega-attorney John Branca in the Antoine Fuqua-helmed Michael Jackson biopic Michael. We can see the resemblance.

“Miles’ finely tuned skills as an actor are up to the challenge of playing a man who is being examined for the pivotal role he played in Michael Jackson’s life,” Fuqua said in a 2/6 statement announcing the cast addition. “He is the perfect actor to disappear into the role of John Branca.”

Teller grew up playing baseball and music (he was behind the drumkit in a band), so he and Branca have parallel backgrounds. What’s more, the actor went to NYU, where Branca’s son is an undergrad.

Branca and John McClain, the co-executors of Jackson’s estate, are the film’s producers.

Jaafar Jackson will portray his famous uncle in the title role, while nine-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi will play the younger Michael. Colman Domingo and Nia Long have been cast as parents Joe and Katherine Jackson.

Lionsgate will release Michael on 4/18/25. More imminently, Teller will star in the upcoming Apple TV+ series The Gorge alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Sigourney Weaver, while Branca will be viewable at Pauley Pavilion during telecasts of UCLA basketball games. And at the Polo Lounge, of course.