“It was clear that he is the only person to take on this role.” The film’s producer, Graham King, has chosen Jaafar Jackson, 26 and nephew of Michael Jackson, to play the King of Pop in the biopic “Michael”, the Lionsgate studio announced on Monday.
Jaafar Jackson is the son of Michael Jackson’s older brother and “Jackson 5” member Jermaine Jackson, who is also a singer and producer.
The announcement of the making of this film, almost a year ago to the day, delighted many fans. “Michael” will explore “the complicated man who became the King of Pop,” the studio explained in a statement, saying the film would include “all aspects of his life and his most remarkable performances that put him on the way to becoming an icon in the musical world”.
The biopic will be directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training day”, “Equalizer”) and produced by Graham King, who also produced the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody”, chronicling the life of Freddie Mercury. They both praised Jaafar Jackson’s “natural ability” to imitate his uncle “and bring him to life” and said they “can’t wait for the world to see him on the big screen as Michael Jackson”.
“A spiritual connection”
“Jaafar embodies my son,” Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, said in the press release. “It’s so wonderful to see him carry on Jackson’s legacy of artists and performers. »
According to Graham King, quoted by Variety, the production team reportedly conducted a worldwide casting search before deciding to give the role to “MJ’s” nephew. “It was something so powerful that even after conducting a worldwide search, it was clear that he was the only person to take on this role,” said the British producer.
“There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to imitate Michael and such great chemistry with the camera,” said Antoine Fuqua. Filming is expected to begin this year, according to Variety.
Now that they know who will play their idol, the big question for fans is now probably what the production team is planning for the dark part of the pop star’s life: the accusations of child rape against him.
The interpreter of “Thriller” was indeed accused of rape by several people – minors at the time – at the end of his life and after his death in 2009, allegations which he has always denied. In 2019, the documentary “Leaving Neverland” made headlines by giving the floor to two men claiming to have been victims of sexual abuse by the singer they had previously defended.
