Nothing like a Jackson to play another Jackson. That seems to be the verdict of social networks after the advances of Michaelthe biopic about the King of Pop which already had its world premiere in Berlin on April 1st and will hit Argentine theaters on Thursday the 23rd.
Jaafar Jackson29-year-old nephew of the King of Pop – son of Jermaine, the fourth of the Jackson brothers -, took on the most important challenge of his life: to put himself in his uncle’s shoes – moccasins with white socks to be more precise -, and for that he had to face a demanding interpretive and musical preparation to be able to recreate some of the most famous scenes of Michael Jackson’s rise to the highest point where he could reach.
It is known that the King of Pop was a extreme perfectionist: He had meticulously studied every step and every movement of his body and the corps de ballet, even while he was singing.
When he was offered the character, acting was not in his plans. Yes, he was already a singer and dancer. With the inevitable influence of his family, Jaafar showed interest in music and dance at the age of 12. In 2019 he released his first single Got me singing. His video clip recorded in Rio de Janeiro made it clear that his uncle is his greatest inspiration.
His high, velvety voice, physical appearance, his style of movement and winks to Michael’s video clip narrative, surely, contributed to convincing the producers that he was the one.
Jaafar said that it took him a whole year to share the proposal with his closest circle. He needed time to convince himself that he could do it, feel safe, while taking acting classes for the first time in his life. He kept it so secret that not even his mother was aware.
It all started in 2020 when Jaafar saw an article saying that Graham King had obtained the rights to film the life of Michael Jackson. The British producer was responsible for Bohemian Rhapsody, the Queen biopic, and other great films such as The Aviator, Hugo and Infiltratorsall nominated for an Oscar, and winner of the latter title. The first thing the young man thought was Who will play Michael? told in an interview with Jimmy Fallon in The Tonight Show. And he didn’t think that it could be him at that moment, the project was very interesting. So a few months later he received a call from the producer. They went to lunch and he asked her, ‘Have you ever acted?’ ‘Never. I never wanted to be an actor, he replied. And he added: “I grew up wanting to play golf. And I got into music.” But he also grew up watching his uncle’s videos, studying his dance steps, like millions around the world. Jaafar’s favorites are Thrillerwhich filmed on the original set surrounded by zombies and Smooth Criminal.
The audition he had was nothing conventional. He assured that he had to earn the role in a process that lasted two years. Within six months he was working on other scripts, films and also theater scenes. Then it was time to start interpreting the first scenes along with his teacher who was sent by Graham King.
In an interview of Interview, Jaafar spoke about the process of transformation that he lived through these years personally, in which he even used his uncle’s methods to achieve his goals. “It’s the kind of experience that transforms you for the better. Being able to live in those shoes, feel a little of what he felt, see life with a new perspective like Michael did—it was important to feel all those things to be able to start from the truth, instead of trying to imitate or copy the form of the movements. I wanted to learn the meaning behind the movement, the essence,” he explained. And there was something key to this introspective work, Jaafar’s access to his uncle’s character writings. “His diaries, his poems, his mantras and affirmations; That was a turning point for me. I started doing the same, putting affirmations on walls and mirrors. It all started with the voice, then the gestures and movements. I miss that feeling on set. Once we finished, I had to get used to it,” he confessed.
This construction of the character included a stay in Hayvenhurst Manor in Encino, California, the main home of the Jackson family since 1971, purchased by Joe Jackson (Michael’s father) after the success of the Jackson 5. It was Michael’s home for much of his youth. Jaafar settled there, in a house without furniture, where the producer suggested at least putting up a bed or throwing away a mattress. Finally, he slept on a tatami, those low Japanese mattresses.
In that house—in which he also lived for 15 years—he created a research room. “There was a dance hall where Michael used to train. And I started training there, and I slept in many different rooms in the house just to feel the energy. Staying there allowed that to happen without forcing it. Without that, I honestly think my performance wouldn’t be what it is,” he said.
Jaafar remembers himself in front of the mirror in his trailer, already made up, with one of his famous uncle’s most iconic jackets, the pants that showed off his white socks, and the legendary moccasins, special, magical, made to spin. He was ready to go on stage as his uncle. The actor said that he will never forget the moment he saw himself transformed into Michael Jackson for the first time: “It was emotional, it was spiritual and I couldn’t stop thinking about him…(…).
The film directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) and written by John Logan, proposes an intimate journey through the life of the King of Pop, from his beginnings as a child prodigy in the Jackson 5 to his consecration as a world star who revolutionized music and entertainment. The focus is on his creative processes, his perfectionism and personal life, in a timeline that reaches the end of the eighties.
This film does not include the serious accusations of child abuse that irreparably damaged the star’s reputation, although he was declared innocent of all charges on June 13, 2005. Changes were made to the script and almost a third of what was recorded that included complaints would have been eliminated, so they had to modify the release date. Likewise, the deleted scenes and the retakes caused an additional expense of 15 million dollars. The main reason for this reversal was a legal clause linked to the agreement with Jordan Chandler (accuser in 1993) that prohibited the representation or mention of his case in audiovisual productions. Nor is his death addressed, which occurred in 2009 due to a propofol overdose, after a long judicial investigation.
Accompanied by a first-class cast that includes Nia Long (as Michael’s mother), Miles Teller (in the role of John Branca, the historic manager) and the double Oscar nominee Colman Domingo, in the role of Joe, Michael’s father, this film is expected to become a box office phenomenon, with a gross of 700 million dollarswhich is what the Lionsgate studio estimates. Although it would be below another event of the genre, Bohemian Rhapsodywhich had a turnover of 910 million dollars.
“It was like a concert,” he exclaimed. Carina Floeth38, one of the 4,000 fans who attended the advance–premiere by Michael Jackson in Berlin.
Antoine Fuqua said that on the first day of filming he immersed himself, straight to the point, in “one of the most difficult performances” despite the protagonist’s lack of experience. They repeated the scene so many times that the young man’s feet bled and he could no longer feel his fingers, the director said.
Jaafar also remembered that first day of filming, dedicated to the Bad Tour. The first two weeks of filming focused on choreography, the actor said about his incredible debut.
With training from two of Michael’s choreographers, Rich +Tone Talauega, Jaafar He shouldn’t have learned to dance, because he already knew how, but rather do it like his uncle. Thus he practiced a turn for three years, which turned out to be much more difficult than the famous moonwalk. “It’s the hardest move for me, the spin. Just because, naturally, if I spin, I’d spin to the right because of my balance. But Michael spins to the left. It wasn’t until a couple of months before production that I started doing it consistently, and I was rehearsing it for three years. People think it’s easy, but it’s very complicated. I learned just by doing it over and over again. It became an obsession.”
Son of Jermaine Jackson and the Colombian Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson He was born on July 25, 1996 in Los Angeles, California. The young man has many siblings on his mother and father’s side from previous relationships. In total there are 11: 2 women and 9 men.
On his father’s side, Jermaine Jackson, Jaafar has several half-siblings born from previous marriages and relationships: Jermaine Jr., Autumn and Jaimy – children of his first wife, Hazel Gordy – as well as Jeremy and Jourdynn, the result of his relationship with Margaret Maldonado. They are joined by Donte, adopted by the musician in the early nineties.
His Colombian mother, before forming a relationship with his father, had a relationship with his Uncle Randythe youngest of the Jacksons, with whom he had two children: Genevieve and Steven. After separating from Randy and starting a relationship with his brother, Jermaine, the couple adopted Donte, then Jaafar arrived and finally Jermajesty.
The couple divorced in 2003. Randy’s children have a double bond with Jaafar: They are his brothers and, at the same time, his cousins.
The relationship between the Jackson brothers went through decades of tensions and reconciliations, marked by past conflicts, such as that of Jermaine and Randy.
After the private screening of the film, not the entire family was satisfied. There were three big absentees at the world premiere: her sisters Janet, who had harshly criticized her, and La Toya were not there. And Michael Paris’s daughter was another of the great absentees. He said on his IG that he had made some corrections when reading the first script and how they were not taken into account he continued with his life.
Yes, Jaafar’s brothers and Michael’s children, Prince and Bigi, were present and posed on the red carpet.
In a family where music and entertainment marked several generations, Jaafar’s great debut also represents a new chapter in the history of the Jackson clan.
