First Clear Look at Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’ Biopic

A new image has been released from the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, Michael.

The photo represents the first clear look at star Jaafar Jackson as the iconic singer.

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“With Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael,” declared producer Graham King. “He embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could.” The actor is also the singer’s nephew.

Previously, Jaafar Jackson released a black-and-white shot of him performing the music icon’s signature, gravity-defying, toe-standing move while wearing a black fedora.

The project is directed by Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer franchise) and written by John Logan (Gladiator), with a producing team that includes Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody).

The studio has said the biopic will cover all aspects of Michael Jackson’s life, which presumably means it will address the child sexual assault allegations that have been made against the singer, who died in 2009.

The disturbing allegations were documented in the 2019 HBO docuseries Leaving Neverland. The documentary details two long-running relationships Michael Jackson began at the height of his stardom with two boys, who were 7 and 10 at the time, and their families. In the doc, the now-grown men tell the story of how they were sexually abused by the singer.

The biopic’s official description reads: “Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop. The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, exemplified by his most iconic performances. As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.”

Michael will be released April 18, 2025.

This story originally posted Jan. 19, 2024.

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