The nephew of Michael Jackson, Jaafar Jackson, is set to play his uncle in director Antoine Fuqua’s biopic Micheal. The actor has shared a photo from the set of the film that features himself as The King of Pop in one of his iconic dance poses.
Jackson included a caption with the photo that reads: “The Journey Starts Monday.” It was previously announced earlier this month that Michael will officially begin production on Monday, January 22, 2024, with the movie then hitting theaters in 2025.
Jaafar Jackson is the son of Michael’s brother Jermaine Jackson, and Fuqua previously talked about the actor, saying: “It’s uncanny how much he’s like Michael. Sounds like him, dances like him, sings. It’s really uncanny. Graham King, who is a fantastic producer, found him, and introduced him to me, and I was blown away.”
Fuqua went on to talk about the story that they’re looking to tell with the movie: “Just to tell the facts as we know it, about the artist, about the man, about the human being. You know, the good, bad, and the ugly.” It was previously reported that the film would not shy away from the controversies of Jackson’s life while highlighting the musical accomplishments of his career.
The movie is said to be “an in-depth portrayal of a complicated man who became the King of Pop. It will bring to life Jackson’s most iconic performances as it gives an informed insight into the entertainer’s artistic process and personal life.”
Joining Jackson in the film is 9-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi, who will be playing a young version of Michael. The script for the film was written by John Logan, who previously wrote films such as Gladiator and The Aviator.
The movie is set to be released on April 18, 2025.
