Jaafar Jackson talks playing Michael Jackson, the sequel and his preparation for the role

'Michael' became the first biographical film to surpass $1 billion at the worldwide box office

Jaafar Jackson has reflected on playing his late uncle Michael Jackson in the biopic Michael, which became the first biographical film to surpass $1 billion at the worldwide box office, according to Variety.

Speaking on the Awards Circuit podcast, the 30-year-old actor revealed that he had set the ambitious financial target two years before filming began.

“I was pretty emotional,” he said. “I know how proud Michael would be of that, because he was someone who wanted to break many records.”

Jackson spent around two years preparing for the role, studying his uncle’s songs, recordings, journals, rehearsals and performances. He also worked with acting coach Angela Gibbs and studied established acting techniques to develop his performance.

He explained that capturing Michael’s distinctive voice came before mastering his movements, while recreating the choreography for “Bad” proved particularly challenging.

The actor also discussed the film’s original third act, which reportedly included sensitive subject matter but was ultimately removed. He said the experience of filming unused scenes still helped him develop as an actor.

Regarding a possible sequel, Jackson said he had not received a confirmed production date, despite reports that filming could begin in late 2026 or early 2027.

“I haven’t been told anything concrete, but whatever decision is made, I’m more than ready to get back into it and excited for where that goes,” he said.

Jackson also recalled his family’s emotional response to the film, revealing that his father, Jermaine Jackson, watched it at the Berlin premiere before praising his portrayal of his late brother.

Reflecting on his responsibility to represent Michael, Jaafar added: “My job is to come prepared and deliver the best performance I can.”