Jaafar Jackson, the 29-year-old son of Jermaine Jackson, will portray his late uncle, Michael Jackson, in the forthcoming biopic Michael, set to premiere in cinemas on Friday, April 24. The film chronicles the life of the legendary pop icon who died in 2009 at age 50.
In a notable revelation, Jaafar kept his casting a secret from his family for an entire year. He chose to withhold the news even from his mother, Alejandra, during the preparation and filming stages. Jaafar explained that he maintained this secrecy until he felt ready to share the news.
Meanwhile, co-star Miles Teller, who plays Michael Jackson’s manager and attorney in the film, recalled the moment Jaafar’s mother visited the set. She was reportedly astonished upon seeing her son fully transformed into the iconic figure. Jaafar described how emotional the experience was for her, as she struggled to connect the performance with her son initially.
This intimate insight into the making of Michael highlights the personal challenges Jaafar faced while stepping into such a monumental role within his own family legacy.
