Jaafar Jackson, 26, will play his late uncle Michael Jackson (1958-2009) in the upcoming biopic titled Michael. Director Antoine Fuqua announced this via Instagram. The 26-year-old is the son of Jermaine Jackson, brother of Michael Jackson and a former member of the band The Jackson Five. "Michael" will be the first major film role for Jaafar Jackson.
"We're proud to announce Jaafar Jackson as Michael - the film event that explores the journey of the man who became the King of Pop," the filmmaker wrote alongside a black and white photo showing the young actor from behind hat and in a dance pose typical of his late uncle.
Jaafar Jackson also published the photo on his Instagram profile. "I'm honored and humbled to bring my Uncle Michael's story to life. To all the fans around the world, we'll see you again soon," he said.
The Hollywood Reporter recently reported that Fuqua will direct the film. The screenplay, on the other hand, was written by John Logan. Bohemian Rhapsody producer Graham King is on board as a producer, as are John Branco and John McClain, who are co-executives of Jackson's estate. "The first films of my career were music videos and I still feel like film and music are a big part of me," Faqua was quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter.
In the 1990s, Fuqua produced music videos for Prince (1958-2016), Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder and Usher, among others. As a film director he directed the historical film "Emancipation" and as a producer he was involved in the action comedy "Bullet Train". The film studio Lionsgate already confirmed in February 2022 that a biopic about the "King of Pop" was in the works.
The biopic wants to show an "in-depth portrait of the complicated man who became the king of pop". It will bring Jackson's most iconic performances to life and provide an in-depth look at the entertainer's artistic process and personal life. The film chronicles Jackson's beginnings with the band The Jackson Five and his rise to superstardom, according to The Hollywood Reporter "Michael" will begin in 2023.
Michael Jackson died in 2009 at the age of 50. He is one of the most successful artists of all time. He is said to have sold an estimated 400 million records. He had 13 number one singles on the Billboard charts. There are also numerous Grammys and Brit Awards as well as a Golden Globe.
