Who plays Johnnie Cochran in Michael, the 2026 biographical film?

Derek Luke plays Johnnie Cochran in Michael, the 2026 biographical film.

Johnnie Cochran was an American attorney who became nationally known for high-profile criminal and civil cases. Derek Luke portrays him in Michael, adding a legal figure to a cast otherwise centered on Jackson’s family, music career, and business relationships.

Luke is known for roles in films such as Antwone Fisher, Glory Road, and Captain America: The First Avenger. His casting was announced after the principal group of Jackson family and music-industry roles had already been revealed.

Johnnie Cochran is not the same character as John Branca. Miles Teller plays Branca, the attorney who becomes connected to Michael Jackson’s professional affairs. The two attorneys therefore represent separate roles in the film.