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THIS BIOPIC IS AN INTIMATE TAKE ON MICHAEL JACKSON’S STORY

The iconic musician was under the spotlight from the moment his career began at the age of five, earning him praise, obsessive fans, and controversies aplenty. Now, heavyweight screenwriter John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall) is taking on Jackson’s complicated journey to becoming one of the biggest-selling artists of all time in this Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic. It will be produced by Bohemian Rhapsody’s Graham King, and made with the backing of the late star’s executors.

MICHAEL JACKSON WILL BE PLAYED BY HIS OWN NEPHEW

Twenty-seven-year-old Jaafar Jackson, son of Michael’s brother Jermaine, is making his debut acting role and playing MJ in his prime. Despite his lack of on-screen credentials, Jackson has received the seal of approval from the late singer’s mum Katherine, who has said, “Jaafar embodies my son.”

IT’S GOING TO GET NOSTALGIC

The whole clan is coming to life in the film. Colman Domingo and Nia Long will play Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine, while his brothers will be played by two sets of actors: one to represent The Jackson 5 as fresh-faced teenagers, and another to represent them as grown-up stars. Meanwhile, Miles Teller takes on the role of John Branca, the musician’s high-powered attorney, who also holds a producer credit on the film. Casting for Jackson’s notoriously pugnacious pet chimp Bubbles has yet to be announced.

APPARENTLY, IT WON’T SHY AWAY FROM THE DIFFICULT BITS

Fuqua has claimed that the film will tackle “the good, bad, and the ugly” chapters of the pop star’s story. But will it include the accusations of paedophilia that dogged his later years? With the executors of Jackson’s estate listed as producers, how deep will it go? After all, Jackson’s estate filed a $100 million lawsuit against HBO for its lacerating 2019 documentary, Leaving Neverland.

IT’S THE LATEST IN A LINE OF LUCRATIVE TIE-INS

Jackson’s estate has netted more than $2.4 billion since the star passed away in 2009, and in 2023 he topped Forbes’ list of top-earning dead celebrities. He works harder than most living performers: his posthumous output includes two albums, a Las Vegas show featuring a hologram appearance of the performer, a world tour, and two West End musicals. With the estate keen to keep MJ’S memory alive, this is unlikely to be his final resurrection.

MICHAEL WILL BE IN CINEMAS FROM 18 APRIL 2025