First real look at Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in upcoming biopic MICHAEL

Here’s our best look yet Jaafar Jackson like his uncle Michael Jackson in the director Antonio Fuquais the next biopic Michele. The photo is from a scene in the film where the King of Pop performs “Man in the Mirror” from the legendary Dangerous Tour of 1992-1993.

The photo was taken by Kevin Mazur, who was one of the photographers who documented Michael Jackson, capturing the evidence as he prepared to entertain the world with his “This Is It” concerts. He said of his experience of him on the film set:

“When I arrived for my first day on the set of this movie, I was so excited – it was like the first time I went on tour filming Michael Jackson. When I walked onto the set, I felt like I had stepped back in time and was walking into the stadium to shoot the tour. Seeing Jaafar perform, I thought, “Wow, that’s Michael.” The way he looks and acts, his mannerisms, everything: it’s Michael Jackson. For anyone who didn’t get the chance to see Michael perform live during his lifetime, this is what it was like.”

Producer Graham King said: “With Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael. He embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could.”

Fuqua added: “We’ve assembled an incredible team of artists for this project – hair and makeup, costumes, cinematography, choreography, lighting, everything – and some who knew and worked with Michael are coming together for this film. But the most important thing is Jaafar who embodies Michael. It goes beyond physical resemblance. It is Michael’s spirit that emerges in a magical way. You have to experience it to believe it.

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.

(Photo: Kevin Mazur/Lionsgate)