Jaafar Jackson to star in 'Supermax' next alongside Will Smith
Washington DC, August 3
On the heels of his breakout turn as his late uncle Michael Jackson in 'Michael', actor Jaafar Jackson has found his next project in the action thriller Supermax, reported Deadline.
According to Deadline, the actor has joined the cast alongside Will Smith and AnnaSophia Robb. The details of his role are being kept under wraps, but it's said to be pivotal to the film's central plot, revolving around two FBI agents (Smith & Robb) investigating a seemingly impossible murder within the impenetrable walls of a maximum-security prison.
David Gordon Green is directing from a script by David Weil and David J. Rosen. The Picture Company partners Andrew Rona & Alex Heineman are producing alongside Smith and Adam Fishbach for Westbrook Studios.
According to the outlet, Scribes Weil and Rosen will exec produce alongside associate producer Natalie Laine Williams.
Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman, President of Film Alexandra Loewy, COO Thom Zadra, and SVP Spencer Ela will also exec produce, alongside James Lassiter and Miguel Melendez for Westbrook Studios.
Jackson garnered critical acclaim for his transformative turn as the King of Pop, in Michael, the film from Antoine Fuqua, which now stands as the highest grossing biopic of all time, ahead of Oppenheimer and Bohemian Rhapsody.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, 'Michael' follows Jackson's rise to fame, further covering his involvement in the Jackson 5 band with his brothers in the 1960s to his 'Bad' tour in the late 1980s.
Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, portrayed the lead role as the pop icon, while Juliano Valdi stepped in as younger Michael Jackson. Both of them made their film debuts with 'Michael'.
Colman Domingo and Nia Long were seen as parents Joe and Katherine. The project was developed with the support of several members of Jackson's family years after his death in 2009 at the age of 50, according to Variety.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Will Smith and Jaafar Jackson together? That's a solid combo! Jaafar's performance in 'Michael' was surprisingly good. Indian audiences love action thrillers too, and this plot about a murder in a maximum-security prison sounds gripping. Hope the script lives up to the hype!
Honestly, I'm bit skeptical. Jaafar nailed the MJ biopic, but action thrillers are a different ball game. Also, the last few Will Smith action films haven't been great. Hope this one doesn't turn into a forgettable OTT release. Indian cinemas need good Hollywood films back, yaar!
The 'Michael' biopic was a huge hit in India too, right? Jaafar really looked and sounded like MJ. Now he's doing an action film with big names—this is great for his career. Also, AnnaSophia Robb is back! She was great in 'The Carrie Diaries.' So excited for this one!
Interesting to see Jaafar choosing a completely different genre after a biopic. That's a smart move to show his range, unlike many stars who get typecast. The premise sounds like a mix of 'Prison Break' and 'Silence of the Lambs'—could be a fun watch. Will Smith fans in India will definitely flock to theatres for this! 🇮🇳
I appreciate that the Jackson family is supporting this project. They've been through a lot, and seeing Jaafar carry forward Michael's legacy in a different way is heartwarming. The prison setting is fresh, but I hope his 'pivotal role' doesn't just mean a 10-minute
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