It's official.
We finally know the name of the one who will slip into the skin of Michael Jackson in the biopic which will soon be dedicated to him.
And the lucky winner is none other than a member of the Jackson clan: Jaafar, the 26-year-old son of Jermaine Jackson, brother of the late "king of pop" and former member of the Jackson 5. The director of the film, Antoine Fuqua himself took to his Instagram account to confirm the news on Monday, January 30.
"Proud to announce that Jaafar Jackson will play the role of Michael - the event film which explores the journey of the man who became the king of pop", he split in the caption of a snapshot in black and white where we see the young actor imitating the steps of his illustrious uncle.
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“I am so honored to be able to bring my Uncle Michael's story to life.
To all the fans around the world, see you soon,” Jaafar Jackson immediately reacted on Twitter and Instagram.
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“The only person who can play this role”
Born in 1996, Jaafar Jackon is one of seven children born to Jermaine Jackson, one of Michael's older brothers.
Passionate about music, he has been singing and playing the piano since the age of 12, we read in the American press.
In 2019, he also released his first single:
Got Me Singing
.
"Jaafar embodies my son," rejoiced Katherine Jackson, Michael's mother, quoted in the columns of the American media
The Hollywood
Reporter
.
"It's wonderful to see him continue our legacy as artists and performers."
Same enthusiasm on the side of the producer of the film, Graham King, already crowned with success with
Bohemian Rhapsody,
the biopic devoted to Freddie Mercury.
"I met Jaafar over two years ago and was blown away by how he personified the spirit and personality of Michael," the British film producer recalls.
“It was something so powerful that even after conducting a search around the world, it was clear that he was the only person who could play this role.
I'm thrilled he's agreed to take part in the biopic about his uncle and I can't wait for the world to see him on the big screen as Michael Jackson."
La Toya Jackson and her nephew Jaafar Jackson.
(Los Angeles, September 14, 2019.) Abaca
Filming for
Michael
is due to begin later this year.
The screenplay will be written by John Logan, to whom we owe films like
Gladiator
,
Skyfall
and even
Spectre
.
According to the production company Lionsgate, the film should touch on all aspects of the life of the “King of Pop”.
It remains to be seen how the film crew will approach the dark corners of his life, starting with the accusations of pedophilia which the singer has been the subject of, with the Jackson family so invested in the project.
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