Jaafar Jackson to Star as Uncle Michael in Upcoming Biopic

In January 2023, it was announced that Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of the late Michael Jackson, has been cast to play his iconic uncle in an upcoming biopic. Jaafar, who was born in January 1996, is the son of Jermaine Jackson, one of the original members of the legendary R&B group The Jackson 5.

Jaafar has fond memories of his time spent at his uncle Michael's Neverland Ranch as a child, recalling playing hide-and-seek, going on rides, and watching movies together. "I recall being at [Michael's Santa Barbara mansion] Neverland, playing hide and seek, going on rides, watching movies and just having a great time," he remembered in a 2020 interview.

To prepare for the role, Jaafar underwent extensive training, including altering the pitch of his voice to match his uncle's distinctive sound. "My voice sits lower than my uncle Michael's. He has a high pitch," he explained in 2024. "We all [in the family] have a similar tone in our voice. It's just strong genes, I'd say. I definitely got inspired by his music."

The biopic, titled "Michael," is being produced in collaboration with Michael Jackson's estate and is set to provide an "unbiased" depiction of the singer's life, including addressing the child sex abuse claims made against him. The film's producer, Graham King, praised Jaafar's ability to "organically personify the spirit and personality of Michael," stating that he is the "only person to take on this role."