Michael Jackson Biopic Cast Revealed: Meet the Actors Playing the Jackson 5

Lionsgate announced the cast of actors playing members of the Jackson 5 in 'Michael'

The highly-anticipated biopic on the life of Michael Jackson is coming on April 18, 2025, and the full cast has finally been revealed!

The film, simply titled Michael, will document the life of the King of Pop from his younger years up until his death. Still in production, the Lionsgate and Universal Pictures project will feature Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew, taking on the lead role of his uncle through his adult life.

Now, the actors who will play each member of the iconic Jackson 5 are set: Juliano Krue Valdi and Jaafar as the late pop icon; Jayden Harville and Jamal R. Henderson as Jermaine; Jaylen Lyndon Hunter and Tre Horton as Marlon; Judah Edwards and Rhyan Hill as Tito; and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre and Joseph David-Jones as Jackie.

Colman Domingo was cast as their father, Joe Jackson, while Nia Long plays Katherine Jackson. Miles Teller stars as John Branca. John Logan wrote the script and Antoine Fuqua is directing.

“The truly epic nature of this film required a total of ten actors with the talent to portray the Jackson 5 through the years,” said producer Graham King in a press release Tuesday. “I’m thrilled to bring this extraordinary group of actors and performers to worldwide audiences in this film.”

Meet the actors!

Related: See the Michael Jackson Biopic Cast, Side by Side with the Real People

Jaafar Jackson

The late singer’s 27-year-old nephew Jaafar Jackson is set to play his uncle. After searching for someone to fit the part, King said, "It was clear that he is the only person to take on this role."

King added that he was "blown away by the way he organically personifies the spirit and personality of Michael” and was “beyond thrilled that he has come on board to portray his uncle and cannot wait for the world to see him on the big screen as Michael Jackson."

Though Michael will mark his acting debut, Jaafar is no stranger to the entertainment industry. Jaafar has been singing and dancing since age 12, according to Deadline, and previously appeared in several family-oriented projects over the years, including 2015's The Jacksons: Next Generation and Tito Jackson's 2021 music video "Love One Another."

Related: See the Michael Jackson Biopic Cast, Side by Side with the Real People

Juliano Krue Valdi

Juliano Krue Valdi, 9, will portray a young Jackson, a big role in his first feature film.

“If anything, casting the role of the young Michael was more difficult than casting the adult role, because where do you find a child actor with the chops of the greatest entertainer who ever lived? In the end, that was our focus – talent – and we looked far and wide for an actor who could embody Michael’s spirit through his voice, his charisma, and his dance skills. Juliano’s undeniable, raw talent put him at the top of our list,” Fuqua said of Valdi’s casting. 

Valdi has also played roles in Bite Size Halloween and Face's Music Party, per his IMDb.

Jamal R. Henderson

Former model Jamal R. Henderson will play Michael's brother Jermaine in his adult years. Henderson got his start in acting on the Netflix hit Mindhunter, before going on to star in the BET feature South Central Love.

On Instagram Tuesday, Henderson shared his excitement about taking on this role.

"Sorry if I've been a lil preoccupied lately... IT'S FINALLY OUT!," his caption began. "Filled with so much joy and gratitude to be apart of this iconic story. 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿"

Jayden Harville

Playing young Jermaine, 15-year-old Jayden Harville is making his film debut in Michael. A California native, Harville has been in commercials since the age of 5 (when he was in a Disney Jr. Doc McStuffins ad) and currently has a role in Nickelodeon's improv comedy incubator show.

Related: Michael Jackson Biopic Director Says Late Singer's 'Spirit' Shows in Nephew's Performance: 'Magical'

Tre Horton

Adult Marlon actor Tre Horton got his start in school theater, playing an orphan in Annie when he was 8. A triple threat, Horton has been trained in singing, dancing and acting, landing roles in Amen Corner, A Chorus Line, and Beauty and the Beast.

He has also found success on TV, playing a lead role in 2023 miniseries My Enemy Alpha, according to his IMDB.

Jaylen Lyndon Hunter

Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, 13, will play Marlon as a kid. Hunter was born in Granada, Spain and got his start in Memphis with the Young Actors Guild. As an actor, songwriter and dancer, Hunter recently concluded touring with Broadway's The Lion King as Young Simba.

Hunter is not new to the role of Marlon — he also played young Marlon in the first national tour for MJ: The Musical.

Rhyan Hill

Ryhan Hill, who will be playing adult Tito, is a dancer and actor who has made a name for himself in Hollywood. He is a series regular in BET+'s The Michael Blackson Show, and has also been credited in Grey's Anatomy and Lovecraft Country.

On the dance side, Hill was in Childish Gambino's memorable "This is America" music video and has shared the stage with artists like Lil Uzi Vert, Bebe Rexha and MC Hammer.

Judah Edwards

Young Tito is portrayed by Judah Edwards, a New Jersey Native with a long history in child acting. He can be seen on Hulu's Saint X, and as the voices of characters in ADA Twist on Netflix, Blaze And The Monster Machines on Nickelodeon and Dee & Friends in Oz on Netflix.

Joseph David-Jones

Joseph David-Jones plays older Jackie in Michael. He had a lead role as Connor Hawke/Green Arrow on The CW’s superhero series Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and starred in the CW sci-fi series 4400.

He can be seen in a long list of television and films, including Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit and Roman J. Israel, Esq. with Denzel Washington and Colin Farrell. This is also not David-Jones' first time working with Lionsgate — he was a costar in The Divergent Series: Allegiant.

Nathaniel Logan McIntyre

Young Jackie is being taken on by Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, who is from New York. He has acted in David Makes Man on the Oprah Winfrey Network and played the lead in Disney+'s Magic Camp.

He was in another biopic on Netflix called Barry, about Barack Obama's early years. McIntyre has also had experience in modeling, commercials and theater, playing Young Simba in Disney's The Lion King before it went on Broadway and continuing the role.

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