Jaafar Jackson debuts as Michael Jackson in biopic

A film debut as an actor for a challenge that would intimidate anyone: portraying Michael Jackson in a biopic.

This is the challenge accepted by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson (born in 1996), who stars in Michael, a $155 million biographical film directed by Antoine Fuqua.

The film was recently premiered at a global fan event in Berlin and will be released in theaters on April 22 by Universal Pictures, CE Report quotes ANSA.

The cast includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Kat Graham as Diana Ross, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones, Miles Teller as lawyer John Branca, and Juliano Krue Valdi as Michael as a child.

The story reportedly focuses on the peak of Jackson’s career, particularly around the success of his album Bad, but could expand into sequels if the film performs well at the box office. The film is co-produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody), alongside John Branca and John McClain from the Michael Jackson Estate, which manages the late star’s rights and assets following his death in 2009 at age 50.

“I remember the first phone call with Graham King,” Jaafar Jackson said in Berlin. “He told me about the project. I had never acted before and never wanted to, so I was very doubtful because I wasn’t sure I was capable. I started working with an acting coach for about a year and then began studying Michael—his videos, his lyrics, everything.”

The Berlin premiere also highlighted family tensions surrounding the film. Several members of the Jackson family attended, including Michael’s sons Prince and Bigi, as well as his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, and Marlon. However, Janet Jackson did not attend, reportedly opposing the project, and his daughter Paris Jackson has been openly critical.

Paris Jackson described the biopic’s script as “softened and dishonest” and criticized the Michael Jackson Estate over the large budget, including $15 million allocated for reshoots.

According to reports, the reshoots were necessary to replace the entire final part of the film, which had addressed allegations of child abuse against Michael Jackson—allegations he denied and for which he was acquitted in 2005 on 10 charges. The changes were reportedly due to legal complications linked to a past settlement agreement with one of his accusers.