Michael Jackson Biopic Releases Unbelievable First Look At Jaafar Jackson As The King Of Pop
Michael Jackson fans may be struck with a bit of confusion as the first image of Jaafar Jackson portraying his late uncle is a little too on point. If we didn’t know any better, we’d think that the production team was using AI to bring the King of Pop back to life and onto the stage.
Jaafar Jackson Could Be Michael’s Identical Twin
With his hair pulled back into a ponytail, Jaafar Jackson can be seen serenading the audience and wearing one of his uncle’s most iconic, yet simple, outfits – a pair of black pants, a white v-neck, and an open long-sleeve shirt left unbuttoned to blow in the breeze.
Seriously, when you look back at old photos of Michael Jackson from the ‘80s and ‘90s, the likeness between him and Jaafar Jackson is truly uncanny. It’s like Jafaar is mirroring his uncle in every way, and this image is just the beginning of what will certainly be a long promo lineup of teasers, trailers, and more.
Antoine Fuqua Dives Deep For Michael
Directed by the critically acclaimed Antoine Fuqua, the Michael Jackson biopic, aptly titled Michael, will dig into the musician’s life as he took on the industry and gained worldwide stardom. Not only will his prime years be the focus of the feature, but Fuqua will also uncover the singer’s bond with his family members – specifically his father, Joe Jackson, with whom he had a very rocky relationship.
Fuqua has promised that he won’t shy away from any of the controversial parts of Jackson’s life either, as it will be a hodge-podge of as many details and stories as he can fit.
Michael Is In The Best Hands
Most recently, Fuqua’s name was attached to the Denzel Washington-led film, The Equalizer 3, rounding out the trilogy that the pair started working on a decade ago – although both men have tossed over the idea of another chapter. The perfect filmmaker to helm the Michael Jackson biopic, Fuqua is also the revered visionary behind such other titles as Training Day, Emancipation, The Magnificent Seven, and Olympus Has Fallen.
The Cast Of Michael
Along with Jaafar Jackson, the biopic also features performances from newcomer Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael Jackson, Colman Domingo as Michael’s father, Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as an attorney named John Branca. As is obvious from the lineup so far, Fuqua is planning on making his latest feature one for the books, with some of the biggest names in the business etched onto the call sheet.
Where You’ve Seen Them Before
Recently earning an Academy Award nomination for his appearance in last year’s film, Rustin, many will recognize Colman Domingo from his work on shows including Euphoria and other recent films such as The Color Purple, Sing Sing, and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – and that was in the last year alone – making his appearance in the Michael Jackson biopic all the more exciting. Rising to prominence in the ‘90s for her performances in titles like Boyz n the Hood and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Nia Long most recently held a starring role on the fan-favorite shows Empire and NCIS: Los Angeles as well as in Netflix’s comedy feature, You People. Meanwhile, Miles Teller has drawn fans in with his work in productions including Whiplash and Top Gun: Maverick.
Look For Michael Next Year
This is all to say that, combined with our first look at Jaafar Jackson stepping up to the front of the stage and singing his heart out in the Michael Jackson biopic, the movie is absolutely brimming with talent. A shoo-in for the awards circuit, Michael arrives in theaters on April 18, 2025. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
