Lionsgate Movies
Jaafar Jackson knew what he was getting into when he agreed to portray his uncle Michael Jackson in the upcoming biopic simply titled Michael. He also knew that knowing would not make it any easier. In a new featurette released by Universal Pictures UK titled Becoming Michael, the young actor opens up about the physical and emotional toll of one of the most pressure filled roles in recent Hollywood memory, and the deeply personal motivation that kept him going when the demands of the part pushed him past what most people would consider their limit.
The preparation was relentless by any measure. Jaafar describes rehearsing for hours upon hours until a single move was executed exactly right, returning to the same sequence repeatedly until it met the standard he had set for himself. There were sessions where he danced until his feet bled or went completely numb. The commitment driving that level of physical sacrifice was not simply professional ambition. It was something more personal and more urgent than that.
Why this role meant everything to prove
Taking on the role of one of the most iconic and scrutinized performers in the history of entertainment would test any actor. For Jaafar, the weight of the responsibility carried an additional dimension that no outside performer could fully understand. He was not stepping into a stranger’s shoes. He was attempting to honor his uncle’s legacy in front of a global audience that grew up watching the real Michael Jackson perform at a level that has never been replicated.
Jaafar was direct about his motivation in the featurette. He wanted to prove to himself, to his family and to the filmmakers that he could do this. That three part accountability structure, to himself first, then to those closest to him, then to the professionals who trusted him with the role, reflects the seriousness with which he approached every hour of preparation.
The mental battle that ran alongside the physical one
The physical demands of the role were significant, but Jaafar also describes a quieter internal struggle that ran in parallel throughout the rehearsal process. He recalls waking up sore on countless mornings, his body asking for rest, and facing a decision that repeated itself again and again throughout the months of preparation. Should he take a break and allow his body to recover, or should he go back into the rehearsal room?
The answer he kept returning to was framed as a simple question: what would Michael do? That question functioned as both a motivational tool and a lens through which Jaafar approached the entire role. It pushed him back into the studio when his body wanted to stop, and it shaped the standard he held himself to when a move was close but not quite right.
The moment everything became real
All of the preparation, the bleeding feet, the early mornings, the hours of repetition, converged on the day Jaafar stepped onto set in full costume for the first time. He describes taking a few quiet moments to himself before the cameras rolled, absorbing the reality of where he was and what he was about to do. Standing there in Michael Jackson‘s image, he says he thought to himself that he was really there, that there was no going back, and that it was time to go out and put on the best show ever.
What audiences can expect and when to see it
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, Michael promises a front-row look at the King of Pop’s life and career. The film features a strong supporting cast including Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller and Colman Domingo. Both Fuqua and King appear in the Becoming Michael featurette alongside behind-the-scenes footage of Jaafar working through choreography on set. The featurette is currently available to watch on YouTube.
Early access screenings in IMAX and Dolby are set for April 22, with the nationwide theatrical release following on April 24. Tickets go on sale March 26.
