Universal made a striking return to Barcelona yesterday, captivating the CineEurope audience with a robust presentation that prominently featured the upcoming two-part musical, Wicked. Alongside this, the studio showcased its extensive lineup of 30 films and delivered a surprise first-look at a scene from the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, focusing on the creation of the legendary “Thriller” video, which left the audience in awe.
Producer Graham King, who presented the five-minute clip, explained that the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, has been seven years in the making and recently wrapped filming. Fuqua is currently editing the film in Los Angeles.
“Unpacking the life of the King of Pop has been a daunting task,” said King. The Bohemian Rhapsody producer added, “There are biopics — and then there’s Michael Jackson.” He emphasized the inclusion of more than 30 songs in the film and expressed his honor at being entrusted by Jackson’s family to tell his story.
The ensemble cast is led by Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, portraying Michael, with key roles played by Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, and Juliano Krue Valdi. Lionsgate will handle domestic and Japanese distribution, while Universal will manage all other international territories. The film is slated for a global release on April 18, 2025.
Earlier in the presentation, life-sized Wicked dioramas adorned the entrance to the CCIB auditorium. Inside, the adaptation of the Broadway musical was celebrated with smoke, multi-colored bubbles, and streamer cannons. The first part of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked is set to release domestically on November 27 this year, with Wicked Part Two arriving in theaters on November 26, 2025.
Behind-the-scenes footage and the “Passion Project” clip, recently posted online by Universal, were also shown. Julien Noble, President of International Marketing, highlighted the extensive promotional campaign and partners working with the studio on the film. He also announced the development of a one-hour television special featuring live performances.
The presentation continued with footage from other highly anticipated films, including DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot and the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon; Blumhouse’s Wolfman and Speak No Evil; Focus’ Nosferatu directed by Robert Eggers; and Piece by Piece, the animated biopic of Pharrell Williams. A trailer for Maxxxine, set for release in July as counterprogramming, was also shown, along with a spot for Illumination’s Despicable Me 4, which begins its international rollout in the coming weeks before its domestic release on July 13.
Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of Distribution at Universal Pictures International, reflected on Universal’s successful 2023, including the Best Picture Oscar winner Oppenheimer and the animated hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie. She stated, “From established franchises to dramatic event films, animated blockbusters, and original horror – we are dedicated to filling your screens with a spectrum of movies that reinforce the fact that we have the most compelling and wide-ranging studio slate in the business today.”
Niels Swinkels, EVP and MD of Universal Pictures International, acknowledged the challenges facing the industry but urged a focus on growth and investment in the theatrical experience. “While we look at our industry in the rearview mirror, I would like to take a brief moment to acknowledge that we are still in unprecedented times. More recently, uncertainty has resurfaced about cinemagoers’ choices and the state of the theatrical marketplace. But let’s not let that get in the way of striving for growth. We will prove the naysayers wrong again. Now is the time to invest in the theatrical experience, have faith, double down, take risks, and chase success. I believe this growth mindset will lead to an exciting and prosperous future filled with unlimited possibility.”
Universal’s presentation at CineEurope demonstrated their commitment to delivering a diverse and dynamic range of films, setting the stage for an exciting future in cinema.
