Jaafar Jackson mirrors his uncle Michael Jackson in a sneak peek photo from the forthcoming biopic, as revealed on Tuesday.
The snapshot showcases 27-year-old Jaafar donning an iconic ensemble reminiscent of Michael’s 1990s style: a white button-up shirt layered over a white V-neck, paired with black trousers. His hair is neatly tied back into a low ponytail as he delivers a captivating performance onstage.
“With Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael,” producer Graham King said in a statement. “He embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could.”
Added director Antoine Fuqua, “We have assembled an incredible team of artists for this project — hair and makeup, costumes, cinematography, choreography, lighting, everything — and some who knew and worked with Michael are reuniting for this film.”
“But most importantly, it’s Jaafar who embodies Michael. It goes beyond the physical resemblance. It’s Michael’s spirit that comes through in a magical way. You have to experience it to believe it,” said Fuqua, 58.
The initial glimpse was captured by photographer Kevin Mazur, who expressed in the release,
“When I arrived for my first day on the set of this movie, I was so excited – it was like the first time I went on tour to shoot Michael Jackson.”
“When I walked onto the set, I felt like I’d gone back in time and I was walking into the stadium to shoot the tour. Seeing Jaafar perform, I thought, ‘Wow, it is Michael,’ ” added Mazur.
“The way he looks and acts, his mannerisms, everything — he’s Michael Jackson. For anyone who didn’t have the chance to see Michael perform live during his lifetime — this is how it was.”
In January 2023, it was revealed that Lionsgate was in the process of developing a film centered around the legendary “Thriller” singer. The screenplay for the project comes from John Logan, known for his work on acclaimed films such as Gladiator, The Aviator, and Skyfall.
Portraying the late pop icon, Jaafar Jackson assumes the role of the legendary singer. Jaafar is the son of Michael’s older brother, Jermaine Jackson.
“It’s incredibly exciting to watch Jaafar bring Michael to life,” Fuqua previously said in a statement to Variety. “There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera.”
Jaafar will be joined by a stellar cast for the highly anticipated film, including Oscar-nominee Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and Miles Teller. “Michael” hits theaters on April 18, 2025.
