Michael Jackson biopic: King Of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson is spitting image of dancing superstar in first official photo from set

Michael Jackson’s cousin Jaafar Jackson was the spitting image of the King of Pop in a first official photo from the new biopic Michael.

Jaafar, 27, showed off his late uncle’s signature dance moves as he posed on his toes, wearing a black hat, suit and white top.

The photo, shot in silhouette, was captioned, “The journey starts Monday,” ahead of production.

Lionsgate has officially given the film a worldwide release date.

According to sources, ‘Michael’ is scheduled for a theatrical release on April 18, 2025 in the United States. Deadlinewhile Universal handles overseas distribution.

The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, which stars Jaafar Jackson, 27, the cousin of the King Of Pop, the music superstar, has been given a release date of April 18, 2025.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua with a screenplay written by John Logan Biographical musical drama follows the life and four-decade career of Michael Jackson, one of eight Jackson children, five of whom formed the original pop sensation, the Jackson 5.

Logan, 62, has a long track record as a playwright and filmmaker, having written or co-written Gladiator (2000), The Aviator (2004), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007), Hugo (2011) ) and the James Bond 007 films Skyfall (2012) and Specter (2015).

According to Lionsgate, the film will delve into all aspects of Michael’s life, although it is unknown how or if the more scandalous controversies in his life, including allegations of child sexual abuse, will be addressed, given that the biopic is being made in conjunction with the singer’s legacy.

“Michael will give audiences a compelling and honest portrait of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop,” the official synopsis reads.

‘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.

“Like never before, audiences will get a glimpse into one of the most influential, groundbreaking artists the world has ever known.”

After production on the film was postponed this past year due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, principal photography will now begin on January 22.

Bohemian Rhapsody’s Graham King is among the producers working on the project, which also includes John Branca and John McClain, who are co-executors of Michael Jackson’s estate.

From the looks of his January 2023 Instagram photo post after landing the role of his late uncle, Jaafar, one of Jermaine Jackson’s seven children, was seen in a dance studio working on moves MJ made famous for at least the past year.

“I’m humbled and honored to bring my Uncle Michael’s story to life,” Jaafar wrote on Instagram on January 30, 2023. “To all the fans around the world, see you soon.”

According to Lionsgate, the film will delve into all aspects of Michael’s life, although it is unknown how or if the more scandalous controversies in his life, including allegations of child sexual abuse, will be addressed, given that the biopic is being made in conjunction with the singer’s legacy; seen in 1986

The biopic’s director, Antoine Fuqua, says the actor and singer merely “sounds” and “dances” his uncle; Jaafar Jeremiah (pictured in 2012) is one of Jermaine Jackson’s seven children

The singer and songwriter, who has been singing and dancing since he was 12, is the son of former Jackson 5 member and solo act Jermaine Jackson, 69.

“It’s uncanny how much he looks like Michael…sounds like him, dances like him, sings. It’s really creepy,” Fuqua said in an interview with Entertainment weekly.

“Graham King, a fantastic producer, found him and introduced him to me, and I was blown away.”

Fuqua will direct his third installment of The Equalizer franchise, starring Denzel Washington, for Sony Pictures.

His previous feature film, the Will Smith slavery drama Emancipation, was released by Apple in 2022.

Michael Jackson was thrust into the spotlight as a child and was just six years old when he and his older siblings made their debut as the Jackson 5 in 1964.

Jackson released ten studio albums as a solo artist between 1972 and 2001, building on the ten studio recordings he made as the Jackson 5 and The Jacksons from 1969 to 1975.

It is said that Jaafar resembles his uncle Michael in many ways, including his dance moves; Michael pictured in 1988

Jaafar showed off some of his MJ moves in a social media photo posted in January 2023, right after he got the role

During his four-decade career, Michael’s contributions to music, dance and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture.

With 32 million copies sold worldwide by the end of 1983, Jackson’s Thriller stood out as the best-selling studio album of all time, and was certified by Guinness World Records on February 7, 1984.

In the years since the 1980s, Thriller has become the best-selling album of all time, with more than 70 million copies sold worldwide.