The late Michael Jackson will be portrayed by his 26-year-old nephew Jaafar Jackson in the Antoine Fuqua directed biopic. Jaafar, a singer and songwriter, is the son of Jermaine Jackson of The Jackson 5. Jaafar has been performing since age 12, covering songs from artists such as Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, as well as performing original pieces. The film’s script was written by John Logan and will be produced by Graham King, known for producing “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The film will address the controversies in Jackson’s life, including the pedophilia accusations that surrounded him before his death in 2009.
Antoine Fuqua, known for his work on “The Emancipation,” will direct the Michael Jackson biopic, with a script by John Logan and produced by Graham King, who produced the hit film “Bohemian Rhapsody” based on Freddie Mercury and Queen.
The film will tackle the controversies in Michael Jackson’s life, including the pedophile accusations he faced until his death in 2009.
The presence of the MJ estate, which controls the rights to Michael Jackson’s music catalog, raises concerns about their level of protection for the late icon’s image and legacy. However, the film will have to address the controversies in Jackson’s life, such as the pedophilia accusations, in order to have both dramatic impact and factual accuracy while not alienating fans of Jackson’s music.
Screenwriter John Logan, who has been nominated for an Oscar for “Gladiator,” previously worked with director Martin Scorsese on “The Aviator.” The film starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes as he tried to pursue his innovations before mental illness turned him into a germophobic recluse.
The duo of King and McCarten portrayed the complexities of Freddie Mercury’s life in their film before his death due to AIDS.
The film will showcase Michael Jackson’s musical achievements, giving it similar worldwide appeal as “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which earned over $900 million, increased the popularity of Queen’s music, received an Oscar Best Picture nomination and a win for lead actor Rami Malek.
Antoine Fuqua, director of “The Emancipation,” will direct the biopic on late King of Pop Michael Jackson, to be played by the icon’s 26-year-old nephew, Jaafar Jackson. The film will be scripted by John Logan and produced by Graham King, who previously produced the hit movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” about Freddie Mercury and Queen. The film will delve into the controversies in Jackson’s life, including the pedophilia accusations, but will also focus on his musical accomplishments. Fuqua is currently finishing “The Equalizer 3” with Denzel Washington in Italy.
