OMG, the Michael Jackson biopic is coming and his own nephew is playing him

A Michael Jackson biopic is coming next year with his nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop.

According to the film’s director Antoine Fuqua, “it is really uncanny” how much the 27-year-old is like his uncle and perfect for the project, simply dubbed Michael, before promising it will deliver the “facts”.

“Just to tell the facts as we know it, about the artist, about the man, about the human being. You know, the good, bad, and the ugly,” he told Entertainment Weekly in August.

People privileged to be alive during Michael Jackson’s era are so lucky, I’m envious of them pic.twitter.com/DCzGKUj8jo

— Big D! (@manlikeDAWODU) January 12, 2024

This seems rather unlikely as it is being produced with his estate, who has always shot down the allegations that have dogged Michael his entire career. Along with the high-profile 2005 child sexual molestation trial in which he was acquitted, he has been hit with many accusations of inappropriate behaviour. Most of them stem from his relationship with young boys. The claims, which he vehemently denied, have been extensively explored in documentaries like Louis Theroux’s Louis, Martin and Michael in 2003 and 2019’s Finding Neverland. The Dan Reed two-part special outlined the years of abuse endured by Wade Robson and James Safechuck as children staying at his Neverland ranch.

watching the louis theroux michael jackson documentary and it makes beliebers look tame

— ellie (@elliemvrphy) September 10, 2014

Due out on 18 April 2025, the film will feature a script by John Logan, the mind behind the screenplay for the Ridley Scott classic Gladiator and production from Bohemian Rhapsody’s Graham King. Filming will begin on 22 January.

The #MichaelJackson biopic releases April 18, 2025

He will be played by his nephew Jaafar Jackson pic.twitter.com/w2BSNYFASm

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) January 11, 2024

Michael, who died in 2009 after overdosing on the prescription drugs given to him by his medical team aged 50, began his career as a child in the 70s pop group The Jackson 5. The group, which was managed by his father Joe, was made up of his brothers Randy, Jaafar’s dad Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon.

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After releasing a string of hits like I Want You Back, Blame It On the Boogie and The Love You Save, they took breaks before eventually disbanding. Michael went on to have one of the most successful pop careers of all time. After dominating the charts from the 70s until his death, his memory lives on through his back catalogue, such as Thriller, Bad, and many more.

In 1983, Michael Jackson performed his famous "moonwalk" for the first time.#MichaelJackson pic.twitter.com/uPYGaZ6nqX

— 🎸 Rock History 🎸 (@historyrock_) January 12, 2024

Earlier this week, another Michael-themed movie was announced: The Greatest Night in Pop documentary. The film will look into the creation of the 1985 charity single, We Are The World. With production by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian, it earned more than $63 million, sold more than 20 million copies and snagged four Grammys. It will debut at the Sundance Film Festival on the 19th January before debuting on Netflix on the 29th.

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Picture credit: Greg Allen/Retna Ltd/Shutterstock