Summary

  • Michael's casting trick mirrors a $200 million biopic, showcasing the complex issues in Jackson's life.
  • Fuqua aims to cover key figures in Jackson's life from childhood to adulthood, highlighting his controversial legacy.
  • Jaafar Jackson's debut as Michael could be a secret weapon for the biopic, free from personal scrutiny.

Michael risks making biopic genre mistakes, such as swaying the audience's perception of its subject, it can also shed light on the complex issues in Jackson's life. While no specific plot details are available, Michael will chronicle his life as a member of the Jackson 5 to becoming the King of Pop.

Michael has also cast Berry Gordy and Diana Ross, which suggests Fuqua is going to cover as many prominent individuals in Jackson's life from childhood to adulthood as opposed to just focusing on him. Although Jackson is beloved worldwide to this day, his life was filled with many oddities and controversies that have left an undeniable stain on his otherwise pristine image. However, Jackson's contributions to music and the impact that his body of work continues to have on millions of people can't be overlooked. Given Jackson's legacy and influence, his actor will have massive shoes to fill.

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Michael Jackson Will Be Played By His Real-Life Nephew, Jaafar Jackson

Jaafar Jackson's Role As Michael Jackson Marks His Feature-Length Debut

Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson singing on a mic in Michael

While there will no doubt be claims of nepotism from plenty of other people, Straight Outta Compton's Jackson Jr. faced similar criticism, yet his performance in the 2015 biopic remains one of the best in the film.

Michael Jackson will be played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, which perfectly mirrors Straight Outta Compton's O'Shea Jackson Jr. casting in the role of his father, Ice Cube. Although Michael marks the feature-length debut for Jaafar, his uncanny resemblance to his late uncle combined with the level of talent both behind and in front of the camera bode well for the biopic's success. In addition to Fuqua directing and Jaafar starring, Nia Long and Coleman Domingo will star as the matriarch and patriarch of the Jackson family respectively, and Miles Teller will star as prolific entertainment lawyer John Branca.

Although Jaafar is an untested actor, and Jackson's life, music, and legacy are precious to a lot of people, it is difficult to imagine any other actor who could rise to the challenge of portraying the musician. While Jaafar's acting skills have yet to be seen, his music and dance career lend some credence to his ability to successfully honor the late musician. While there will no doubt be claims of nepotism from plenty of other people, Straight Outta Compton's Jackson Jr. faced similar criticism, yet his performance in the 2015 biopic remains one of the best in the film.

Jaafar Jackson's Casting Repeats Straight Outta Compton's Ice Cube Trick

Ice Cube Was Played By His Son, O'Shea Jackson Jr.

In the case of its more famous , Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube, they were portrayed by Cory Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, and Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr. respectively.

Straight Outta Compton covered the beginnings and legacy of the Compton-based hip-hop group, N.W.A., and it was notable for its excellent pacing and accurate casting. Although MC Ren and DJ Yella didn't have as much prominence in the movie, Aldis Hodge and Neil Brown Jr. still delivered performances that captured their essence, while also highlighting their importance to the group and hip-hop as a whole. In the case of its more famous , Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube, they were portrayed by Cory Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, and Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr. respectively.

Although Jaafar is relatively unknown, that could work in Michael's favor.

While each principal actor in Straight Outta Compton delivered a memorable performance that helped tell the engaging and important story of N.W.A., Jackson Jr. received extensive criticism from critics and audiences before the film received its theatrical release, with claims of nepotism levied against its production. Nevertheless, the complaints were laid to rest after Jackson Jr. demonstrated his ability to not only portray his father earnestly, but also hold his own with his far more experienced co-stars - especially Paul Giamatti and Hawkins. Although Jaafar is relatively unknown, that could work in Michael's favor.

Jaafar Jackson's Casting Can Be Michael's Secret Weapon

One Of The Best Things About Straight Outta Compton Was Jackson's Performance

Since Jaafar will make his live-action debut in Michael, there isn't any previous work that people can scrutinize his performance against. Furthermore, no controversies or scandals plague his image the way they might a more famous actor, which makes it harder for audiences to conflate his personal life with his professional life. Straight Outta Compton marked Jackson Jr.'s feature-length acting debut, and his unknown status made it a lot easier for audiences to believe him in the role. With Jaafar in a similar position, audiences will be forced to see his work more than anything else when Michael hits theaters.

Michael - Poster
Michael
Not Yet Rated
Music
Drama
History
Release Date
October 3, 2025
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Writers
John Logan

Cast

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WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Michael is a biopic exploring the life of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. The film delves into Jackson's complex persona, highlighting his iconic performances and providing an insight into his artistic process and personal life. It aims to present a comprehensive portrait of the influential entertainer.

Studio(s)
GK Films