Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson cast biopic

The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic keeps things in the family.

Jaafar Jackson, 26, the King of Pop’s nephew and son of Jermaine Jackson, has been cast to star in Antoine Fuqua’s film about Michael’s life.

Fuqua, director of Training Day, The Equalizer and Will Smith’s Emancipation, announced the casting with a post on Instagram that used a photo of Jaafar Jackson posing in one of Michael Jackson’s iconic dance moves. Jaafar Jackson tips his hat and stretches his leg out in the photo, while also wearing his uncle’s signature side-striped trousers.

Jaafar Jackson said he felt “humbled and honored to bring my Uncle Michael’s story to life.” in a tweetaccompanied by the same photo attributed to Jaafar’s brother Jourdynn Jackson.

“To all the fans around the world, see you soon,” he said. Jaafar Jackson is also a music artist and released a single and music video, “Got Me Singing” in 2019, in which he channeled his uncle with dramatic dance moves.

The biopic, which will be his first major acting role, is slated to begin filming later this year, Deadline reported.

Katherine Jackson opened up about the casting news, telling Variety that “Jaafar is playing my son.”

“It’s wonderful to see him continue Jackson’s legacy of entertainers and artists,” she said.

One of the film’s producers, Graham King, who worked on the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, told Variety that he met Jaafar Jackson two years ago and was “blown away by the way he interpreted the spirit and organically embodies the personality of Michael”.

“It was something so powerful that even after a worldwide search, it was clear he was the only person to fill the role,” King said. “I am over the moon that he has come on board to portray his uncle and can’t wait for the world to see him as Michael Jackson on the big screen.”

Michael Jackson, who helped define pop music around the world, died in 2009.

Another retelling of Jackson’s life has already achieved critical and commercial success with the 2021 Broadway show MJ the Musical. The show snagged four Tony Awards, including Lead Actor in a Music Awards for 22-year-old lead actor Myles Frost.