Jaafar Jackson: I kept the role of 'Michael' a secret for almost a year
Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's nephew and the actor playing his uncle in 'Michael,' the film about the King of Pop, revealed this Saturday that he kept the offer of the role a secret from his own family for almost a year because he wanted to ensure he could truly rise to this great challenge before accepting.
TL;DR
- Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's nephew, kept his role in the biopic 'Michael' a secret from his family for nearly a year.
- He underwent months of acting classes and transformation, including makeup and hair tests, before starting filming.
- Director Antoine Fuqua described the first day of shooting as one of the most difficult, but he and producer Graham King were convinced Jaafar was the right choice.
- Jaafar and young actor Juliano Valdi (who plays Michael as a child) trained for hours daily with choreographers to master Jackson's movements and dances.
- Nia Long, playing Michael's mother Katherine, emphasized the importance of love and safety in her role to support Michael's upbringing.
- Jaafar hopes audiences will feel Michael Jackson's essence and be inspired and united after watching the film.