Michael Jackson’s Nephew Jaafar Is Spot-On As Pop Great In Biopic’s First Look

The much-anticipated Michael Jackson biopic has stirred excitement since its announcement and the enthusiasm has reached its peak with the release of Jaafar Jackson’s first image from the set. Jaafar, who is Michael’s nephew, remarkably captures the essence of the King of Pop. The released image mirrors the iconic 1992 Dangerous Tour moment, originally captured by Kevin Mazur. Known for his work with Michael throughout his career, Mazur has now captured Jaafar’s first look for the film. After two years of casting process, Jaafar was finally taken on board as the lead. The image features Jaafar in a classic Michael look, a white open button shirt, a white V neck and black pants, with his hair tied in the back as he passionately performs on stage.

Mazur also documented Michael during his final rehearsals just days before the abrupt and tragic end of the musical legend at the age of 50. Meanwhile, Jaafar is the son of Michael’s older brother, Jermaine Jackson, who collaborated with the King of Pop in the well known Jackson 5 band. He’s among the few people who have witnessed the evolution of Michael’s career.

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As per People, in a statement, director Antoine Fuqua said, “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.”

Meanwhile, the photographer, Kevin Mazur added, “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.’ 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.”

The Michael Jackson biopic is officially in production, as the filming kicked off last month. An earlier glimpse from the set revealed Nia Long and Colman Domingo, portraying Jackson’s parents, Katherine and Joe, wearing their character costumes. Meanwhile, Miles Teller is set to play the role of John Branca, who took the position of Michael’s manager following Joe Jackson. The Michael movie is slated to hit theatres on April 18, 2025.