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Jaafar Jackson Kept Michael Jackson Biopic Role Secret From Family For a Year

Jaafar Jackson, nephew of Michael Jackson, revealed he kept his casting as the King of Pop in the upcoming biopic "Michael" a secret from his entire family for a full year. His mother, Alejandra Jackson, was emotionally overwhelmed when she finally saw his performance on screen, finding it hard to connect the portrayal to her son. Jaafar described his own first viewing as a fast-paced experience where he was overly critical, but he enjoyed it more the second time. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and featuring a star-studded cast, is scheduled for release in cinemas on April 24.

Key Points: Jaafar Jackson's Secret Michael Biopic Casting Revealed

  • Secret casting for a year
  • Mother's emotional reaction
  • Debut actor's personal challenge
  • Anticipating father's viewing
  • Biopic's April release
2 min read

Jaafar Jackson didn't tell his family about his 'Michael' casting

Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar kept his lead role in the biopic "Michael" a secret from his family for a full year before revealing it.

Jaafar Jackson didn't tell his family about his 'Michael' casting
"No one in my family knew for a full year. I kept it pretty quiet. - Jaafar Jackson"

Los Angeles, April 7

Debutant Jaafar Jackson said he kept his casting as Michael Jackson in the forthcoming biopic about the King of Pop's life a secret from his family for a year.

The 29-year-old nephew of Michael, who died aged 50 in 2009 will make his acting debut portraying the Billie Jean singer in Michael. He discussed the experience in conversation with his co-star Miles Teller for Interview, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Jaafar said: "(My mother) came to set one time, but she wasn't aware of what to expect. Even in the process of preparing for it, I didn't tell her for a full year."

He added: "No. No one in my family knew for a full year. I kept it pretty quiet until I felt comfortable enough to share it. But when my mom saw it on-screen, it blew her away. It was hard for her to connect it to me, so it was very emotional for her."

Jaafar said his mother found watching the film challenging, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

He added: "It was strange. She is very protective of me, knowing what's to come with the attention the movie will receive. My father hasn't seen it yet, and I can't wait for that.

"It was a full body experience and definitely shows a side of me that my mom hasn't seen."

Discussing his own reaction to seeing the completed film, Jaafar said: "Going into it I tried my best to say, 'I'm going to just try to watch without critiquing anything'. As soon as it came on, it was a completely different experience than what I thought it was going to be. It went by so fast. I was like, 'Wait, that's it?' But the second time I saw it was a completely different experience."

He added: "I was able to understand what the story is and really allow myself to enjoy what's on the screen, rather than thinking of all the things we shot that aren't in there. Because that was my problem the first time. I was like, 'Where's all that footage?'"

Jaafar is the son of Jermaine Jackson, a member of The Jackson 5, and Alejandra Jackson.

Michael is directed by Antoine Fuqua and features an ensemble cast including Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross, and is scheduled for release in cinemas on 24 April.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Michael Jackson's music is timeless. Grew up listening to him. It's interesting they chose a family member to play him. Hope they do justice to his legacy and don't just focus on the controversies. The pressure on Jaafar must be insane.
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Aman W
Respectfully, I'm a bit skeptical. Biopics often simplify complex lives. Michael Jackson's story, especially from an Indian fan's perspective, is about his global art and his personal struggles. I hope the film has depth and isn't just a surface-level tribute by the estate.
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Sarah B
The part about his mother being protective is so relatable. Any parent would be worried about the intense scrutiny that comes with a role like this. Wishing Jaafar all the best for his debut!
K
Karthik V
Releasing on April 24th! Perfect timing after exams. Planning a theatre trip with friends. His story about watching the film the first time vs the second time is something every artist can understand. You're always your own worst critic.
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Nisha Z
It's a sweet story, but honestly, the most fascinating part for me is the casting of Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson. That's a powerhouse actor right there. The family dynamics in the Jackson household were something else.

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