Jaafar Jackson is set to play his uncle, Michael Jackson, in Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming biopic about the late King of Pop. Entitled Michael, the film will be made alongside the Michael Jackson estate and will reportedly examine “the complicated legacy” of Jackson — including the performances that gave him the title of “the greatest entertainer of all time” and the child sex abuse allegations made against him during his career and after his death in 2009. Jaafar is the second-youngest son of Jackson 5 member and Michael’s brother, Jermaine. “Jaafar embodies my son. It’s so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers,” Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael, shared in a statement.
Producer Graham King added that they conducted a global casting search to find the right actor for the late artist. “I met Jaafar over two years ago and was blown away by the way he organically personifies the spirit and personality of Michael,” he said. “It was something so powerful that even after conducting a worldwide search, it was clear that he is the only person to take on this role.
The MJ estate’s presence gives rights to Jackson’s musical catalog, but has led some to question how protective they will be, but clearly things will have to be explored for the film to have dramatic edge and enough truthfulness to stand up to scrutiny while not turning off fans of Jackson’s songs and musical legacy. King and Oscar-nominated Gladiator screenwriter Logan previously threaded the needle perfectly with director Martin Scorsese on The Aviator, with Leonardo Di Caprio playing Howard Hughes as he tried to pursue his innovations before mental illness turned him into a germophobic recluse. King and screenwriter Anthony McCarten captured the complexities of Freddie Mercury’s life before he died from AIDS. Michael will also be driven by Jackson’s musical accomplishments, which gives the film global potential similar to Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed over $900 million worldwide, boosted the song catalog of Queen, got a Best Picture Oscar nom and a win for star Rami Malek.
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I am beyond thrilled that he has come on board to portray his uncle and cannot wait for the world to see him on the big screen as Michael Jackson.” “It’s incredibly exciting to watch Jaafar bring Michael to life,” Fuqua added. “There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera.” Stay tuned for an official trailer and release date for Michael.
