Photo Credit:Charles Letessier
Jaafar Jackson kept a major secret from his family for an entire year while preparing for one of the most personal roles of his life. The 29-year-old actor portrays his late uncle, Michael Jackson, in the upcoming biopic Michael, and chose not to reveal his casting to anyone, including his own mother, until he felt ready.
In a conversation with his co-star Miles Teller for Interview Magazine, Jaafar shared that he remained silent even throughout the preparation process. Teller recalled meeting Jaafar’s mother, Alejandra Jackson, on set when she saw the project for the first time. According to Jaafar, she had no idea what to expect, as he had deliberately kept her in the dark.
When Teller expressed surprise that Jaafar had not shared the news even after landing the role, Jaafar confirmed that no one in his family knew. He explained that he chose to keep it private until he felt comfortable enough to talk about it. When his mother finally saw him on screen, the moment was emotional. He said she struggled to separate his performance from who he is in real life, which made the experience deeply moving for her.
Jaafar is the son of Jermaine Jackson, one of Michael Jackson’s brothers and a member of The Jackson 5. His parents were married between 1995 and 2003. The film marks Jaafar’s acting debut and is directed by Antoine Fuqua.
He noted that watching the film was also unusual for his mother, who is protective of him and aware of the attention the role will bring. His father has not yet seen the movie, but Jaafar is eager for that moment. He described the project as a full body experience that reveals a side of him his mother had never seen before.
The film features a strong supporting cast, including Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross.
Reflecting on watching the completed film, Jaafar said his first viewing felt rushed and surprising. On a second watch, he was able to better appreciate the story and focus on the final product rather than scenes that were left out. Michael is set to premiere in theaters on April 24.
When Teller expressed surprise that Jaafar had not shared the news even after landing the role, Jaafar confirmed that no one in his family knew. He explained that he chose to keep it private until he felt comfortable enough to talk about it. When his mother finally saw him on screen, the moment was emotional. He said she struggled to separate his performance from who he is in real life, which made the experience deeply moving for her.
Jaafar is the son of Jermaine Jackson, one of Michael Jackson’s brothers and a member of The Jackson 5. His parents were married between 1995 and 2003. The film marks Jaafar’s acting debut and is directed by Antoine Fuqua.
He noted that watching the film was also unusual for his mother, who is protective of him and aware of the attention the role will bring. His father has not yet seen the movie, but Jaafar is eager for that moment. He described the project as a full body experience that reveals a side of him his mother had never seen before.
The film features a strong supporting cast, including Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross.
Reflecting on watching the completed film, Jaafar said his first viewing felt rushed and surprising. On a second watch, he was able to better appreciate the story and focus on the final product rather than scenes that were left out. Michael is set to premiere in theaters on April 24.