According to multiple reports, Jaafar Jackson plays Michael Jackson in the biopic 'Michael', directed by Antoine Fuqua. The film is scheduled for release on April 24.
At the Los Angeles premiere, Prince Jackson attended, but siblings Blanket and Paris Jackson were absent. Four of Michael Jackson's siblings—La Toya, Jermaine, Marlon, and Jackie—were present. Jaafar Jackson was accompanied by his fiancée Maddie Simpson.
It was a process that I really had to earn, and it really proved to the filmmakers and myself and my family that I can get to that point where I can pull it off.
Jaafar Jackson was 12 years old when Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. According to The Independent - Main, Jaafar described the process of earning the role and the responsibility he felt to capture his uncle's essence. He also recalled family gatherings at Neverland Ranch, including playing hide-and-seek and watching movies.
The film's producers stated that 'Michael' traces the singer's journey from his early days with the Jackson Five to his iconic solo career, highlighting both his life off-stage and his most famous performances.
I remember just growing up, and we would have family time. Michael would come over to where I was growing up ... and we’d have some days where we’d all get together, play family game day. We’d have wonderful times at Neverland and just playing hide-and-go-seek, getting as much candy, going on rides, watching movies. It was all fun.
There's definitely a responsibility that you feel going into something this big, and the scope, and to tell it in a cinematic way. There's so many moments that I wanted to nail and make sure I had the true essence and that feeling. I had to feel it to make sure I believed in it, first.