Photos from the Michael Jackson biopic MICHAEL featuring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop

Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jacksonhe will play the role of his uncle in the direction Antonio FuquaIt’s the biopic Michele. The actor shared a photo from the set of the film that shows him as the King of Pop in one of his iconic dance poses.

Jackson included a caption with the photo that reads, “The journey starts Monday.” It was previously announced earlier this month that Michael will officially begin production on Monday, January 22, 2024, with the film hitting theaters in 2025.

Jaafar Jackson is the son of Michael’s brother Jermaine Jackson, and Fuqua previously gushed about the actor, saying, “It’s amazing how much he looks like Michael. He plays like him, dances like him, sings. He’s really creepy. Graham King, who is a fantastic producer, found it and presented it to me and I was amazed.

Fuqua continued by talking about the story they want to tell with the film: “Just to tell the facts as we know them, about the artist, about the man, about the human being. You know, the good, the bad and the ugly. It was previously reported that the film would not shy away from the controversies of Jackson’s life, highlighting the musical achievements of his career.

The film is said to be “an in-depth portrait of a complicated man who became the king of pop. It will bring Jackson’s most iconic performances to life as it provides an informed insight into the entertainer’s artistic process and personal life.”

Joining Jackson in the film is a 9-year-old boy Juliano Krue Valdi, who will play a younger version of Michael. The film’s screenplay was written by John Loganwho previously wrote films such as Gladiator AND THE Aviator.

The film is scheduled for release on April 18, 2025.