Michael Jackson Nephew Jaafar Jackson To Play King Of Pop In Antoine Fuqua-Directed Biopic - Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Jackson volition beryllium played by the precocious icon’s 26-year aged nephew Jaafar Jackson successful the Antoine Fuqua-directed movie biopic for Lionsgate. Fuqua conscionable posted a confirmation connected Instagram. The vocalist and songwriter is the lad of Jermaine Jackson, who is the member of Michael and subordinate of The Jackson 5. Jaafar has been singing and dancing since property 12, and has showcased himself singing tunes from Sam Cooke to Marvin Gaye, on with originals.

As Deadline revealed past week, the Emancipation helmer signed connected to adjacent nonstop Michael, which has a publication by John Logan. The film’s being produced by Graham King, who turned the Freddie Mercury Queen communicative into the blockbuster Bohemian Rhapsody. GK Films volition nutrient alongside the co-executors of Jackson’s estate, John Branca and John McClain.

As you tin spot from the video below, the young antheral has the dependable and moves to bash close by his uncle. As an actor, helium mightiness good larn much than helium wanted to astir his satellite celebrated uncle, arsenic we’ve heard the movie volition not shy distant from the controversies of Jackson’s life, the pedophile accusations that haunted his latest years up to his decease successful 2009 astatine property 50, from cardiac apprehension caused by a cocktail of sedatives.

The MJ estate’s beingness gives rights to Jackson’s philharmonic catalog, but has led immoderate to question however protective they volition be, but intelligibly things volition person to beryllium explored for the movie to person melodramatic borderline and capable truthfulness to basal up to scrutiny portion not turning disconnected fans of Jackson’s songs and philharmonic legacy. King and Oscar-nominated Gladiator screenwriter Logan antecedently threaded the needle perfectly with manager Martin Scorsese connected The Aviator, with Leonardo Di Caprio playing Howard Hughes arsenic helium tried to prosecute his innovations earlier intelligence unwellness turned him into a germophobic recluse. King and screenwriter Anthony McCarten captured the complexities of Freddie Mercury’s beingness earlier helium died from AIDS. Michael will besides beryllium driven by Jackson’s philharmonic accomplishments, which gives the movie planetary imaginable akin to Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed implicit $900 cardinal worldwide, boosted the opus catalog of Queen, got a Best Picture Oscar nom and a triumph for prima Rami Malek.

Jackson’s issues spell backmost to the bullying power of his begetter Joe, who brought the younker and his brothers from Gary, Indiana to stardom, but seemingly arsenic precocious outgo to Jackson, who didn’t truly person a childhood. As an adult, helium became an adjacent bigger star, but what was initially viewed arsenic a Peter Pan-like beingness took connected much sinister overtones erstwhile lawsuits began cropping up and multimillion settlements paid.

Fuqua is presently finishing The Equalizer 3 with Denzel Washington successful Italy, and past helium volition crook his attraction to this one. Production volition statesman aboriginal this year, and we’ve heard that Fuqua volition draught his Emancipation and Equalizer 3 cinematographer Robert Richardson to beryllium by his side.

Lionsgate has satellite rights present but volition question an offshore partner, and we’ve heard Sony is squarely successful the mix. That workplace turned into a deed the 2009 docu This is It, comprised of footage of Jackson rehearsing for a bid of London concerts erstwhile helium died.