Jermaine Jackson‘s son Jaafar Jackson has been tapped to play his famous uncle Michael Jackson in a new biopic, Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Fuqua announced Jaafar’s casting on Instagram on Monday. It is Jaafar’s first leading actor role at age 26.
Jaafar, right, is pictured with his father, Jermaine, and brother Jermajesty Jackson in 2013.
The aspiring singer has been singing and dancing since age 12. He released his single “Got Me Singing” in 2019.
The film will be produced by Graham King‘s GK Films alongside the co-executors of Jackson’s estate, John Branca and John McClain.
Michael (bottom left) and his siblings clockwise from left: Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Marlon formed the Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana in 1964.
In 1968, the Jackson 5 (pictured with Diana Ross) signed with Motown Records. They became the first group to debut with four consecutive number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll Be There”.
After going solo with his 1979 album Off the Wall. Michael broke MTV’s racial barrier when his “Billie Jean” music video debuted on the rock music channel on March 10, 1983.
“Billie Jean” was followed by hit songs “Beat It”, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'”, “Human Nature”, “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”, and “Thriller” from his 1982 record-selling album Thriller.
Michael died from an overdose of propofol on June 25, 2009 at age 50.
