Michael Jackson’s Nephew Jaafar Jackson To Play King Of Pop In Biopic Michael

The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, has found someone to play the King of Pop — Jackson’s own nephew, Jaafar Jackson.

Antoine Fuqua, the director of Michael, shared the news on Instagram on Tuesday (Jan 30) that he has cast Jaafar — after a worldwide search, so claimed producer Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody) — to play the title character.

The 26-year-old singer and songwriter is the second-youngest son of Jermaine Jackson, Michael’s elder brother and a member of the Jackson 5.

“Proud to announce Jaafar Jackson as Michael — the motion picture event that explores the journey of the man who became the King of Pop. Coming soon,” wrote Fuqua, whose credits include Oscar-winning Training Day, the actioner The Replacement Killers (aka Chow Yun-Fat’s Hollywood debut), and the recent Will Smith-led slavery drama Emancipation.

Jaafar tweeted the news as well. “I’m humbled and honored to bring my Uncle Michael’s story to life,” he wrote. “To all the fans all over the world, I’ll see you soon.”

Even MJ’s mother, Katherine, thought the casting was perfect. “Jaafar embodies my son,” she said (via Variety). “It’s so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers.”

According to Lionsgate, the studio bankrolling Michael, the film — which is being made with the cooperation of the Michael Jackson estate — will explore all aspects of Michael Jackson’s life, “including his most iconic performances that led him to become the greatest entertainer of all time.”

By “all aspects”, does this mean the film will also cover the scandals as well? You know, the child sexual abuse allegations that plagued his career in the mid-1990s to his death at age 50 in 2009, from sedative-induced cardiac arrest. (Basically, everything covered in the controversial documentary Leaving Neverland.)

Production on Michael is slated to start later this year after Fuqua is done with The Equalizer 3 with Denzel Washington, currently filming in Italy.

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos