Fans of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, are in for a treat as his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, is set to play him in a new biopic titled “Michael”.
The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, will chronicle the life and career of the legendary singer, from his childhood in the Jackson 5 to his global fame and controversies.
The first look of Jaafar as Michael was released on Tuesday by Lionsgate and Universal, and it immediately went viral on social media.
The photo shows the second-youngest son of Jermaine Jackson, recreating an iconic image of Michael taken by Kevin Mazur during the 1992-1993 Dangerous Tour.
Jaafar looks remarkably like his uncle, wearing a white V-neck top, black pants, and a white jacket, while holding a microphone and singing “Man in the Mirror”.
The director of the film said that the resemblance between the two is not only physical, but also spiritual. Fuqua also said that Jaafar “embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could” and that “it’s Michael’s spirit that comes through in a magical way”.
Producer Graham King echoed the same sentiment, saying that “with Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael”.
Jaafar Jackson, who is 27 years old, has previously released a single called “Got Me Singing” in 2019, but this is his first major film role.
The film is expected to be released on April 18th, 2025, and will also feature other actors such as Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, and Juliano Krue Valdi, who will play various roles in Michael Jackson’s life.
