Colman Domingo to Play Joe Jackson and Nat King Cole in Upcoming Biopics

Eddie Fu
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The post Colman Domingo to Play Joe Jackson and Nat King Cole in Upcoming Biopics appeared first on Consequence.

Fresh off an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, Colman Domingo is set to star in two more biopics. In addition to playing Joe Jackson in an upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, Domingo will direct and star in a movie about another legendary singer, Nat King Cole.

Domingo will play the Jackson family patriarch in the Antoine Fuqua-directed film Michael, which will also feature Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar playing the late King of Pop.

“I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon,” Domingo said in a statement about the role. “Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex, and flawed character to portray in Joe Jackson, but I also have a front row seat for Jaafar’s incredible transformation.”

He continued, “After seeing him in rehearsal, my mind was blown. There is something divine about the way that Jaafar is channeling his late uncle. His talent and embodiment of Michael’s essence is simply on another level.”

Per Variety, the currently untitled Nat King Cole biopic is a musical based on a script that Domingo co-wrote and worked on “quietly for a few years.” At this time, it’s unknown which period of Cole’s life the film will be based on.

It’s worth noting that Domingo previously co-wrote the play Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole about the variety series The Nat King Cole Show, the first nationally broadcast television show hosted by an African American.

In addition to the biopics, Domingo will appear in the upcoming Ethan Coen film Drive-Away Dolls and Greg Kewdar’s Sing Sing, the latter of which he also produced. Domingo also executive produced the horror movie It’s What’s Inside, which sold to Netflix earlier this week.

Colman Domingo to Play Joe Jackson and Nat King Cole in Upcoming Biopics
Eddie Fu

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