Everything We Know About Antoine Fuqua's Michael Jackson Biopic
Nearly fifteen years after his death, Michael Jackson is getting the biopic treatment. The upcoming film, Michael, has a stacked team behind it. Antoine Fuqua will direct the feature, which was written by John Logan (The Aviator). Meanwhile, Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody) will produce the film, with help from the co-executors of the Jackson estate, John Branca and John McCain. Given their involvement, it’s unclear how the film will portray the singer's tumultuous downfall. However, according to Deadline, the project recreates Jackson’s pivotal life moments and performances while dealing “squarely with the pedophile accusations that dogged his later years.”
Vulture reports that the biopic has been in development since 2019, but it finally picked up steam when Fuqua joined the project. The director, who began his career working on music videos for Prince and Toni Braxton, is excited to bring Jackson's story to life. “I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work—the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV,” Fuqua said. “His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible.”
Michael is currently slated for an April 18, 2025 premiere. Keep reading for everything else we know about the film so far.
Which Years of Michael Jackson's Life Will the Film Cover?
The exact plot of Michael is under wraps. Still, you can expect a look into the singer's life and career, including his tumultuous upbringing, his early days as a member of The Jackson 5, his solo debut, and potentially his untimely death at the age of 50. Given the singer's massive music catalog, we’ll surely see his greatest hits woven into the film as well.
Who Will Play Michael Jackson?
Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will portray his uncle in the film. Jaafar is the son of Michael's older brother, Jermaine. Last year, Fuqua announced the casting decision on Instagram with a picture of Jaafar dressed in his uncle's signature look. The caption says, “Proud to announce Jaafar Jackson as Michael—the motion picture event that explores the journey of the man who became the King of Pop. Coming soon.”
This year, Jaafar celebrated the project by posting a few behind-the-scenes images on Instagram. In one picture, he seems to have mastered his uncle’s famous toe-tap. He captioned the post, “The journey starts Monday.”
The Rest of Michael's Cast
The film will likely feature all of Michael Jackson’s immediate family. According to Variety, Michael's brothers have been cast by two actors each, who will play them in their younger and older years. Michael's sister, Janet, is the only person missing from the call sheet. It's unclear if she'll be in the film or not. Check out the casting below.
Jermaine: Jayden Harville (young), Jamal R. Henderson (old)
Marlon: Jaylen Lyndon Hunter (young), Tre Horton (old)
Tito: Judah Edwards (young), Rhyan Hill (old)
Jackie: Nathaniel Logan McIntyre (young), Joseph David-Jones (old)
The cast also includes Colman Domingo, who will play Michael’s father, Joe Jackson. In an interview with Variety, Domingo spoke about the role. “Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex, and flawed character to portray in Joe Jackson, but I also have a front-row seat for Jaafar’s incredible transformation,” he said. Meanwhile, Nia Long will star as Michael’s mother, Katherine, and Miles Teller will play Jackson’s entertainment lawyer, John Branca.
We'll keep this story updated as we learn more about the film.
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