US director Antoine Fuqua (57, “Training Day”, “The Equalizer”) has found the leading actor for his planned film about the life of pop star Michael Jackson. The nephew of the “King of Pop”, who died in 2009, Jaafar Jackson (26), is said to be playing the lead role, Fuqua said on Instagram yesterday.
Jafaar Jackson, son of musician Jermaine Jackson (68), wrote on Instagram that he was honored to bring his uncle’s story to life. In addition to the Jackson family, the British star producer Graham King (“Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Aviator”) is also on board. The script is being written by John Logan (Gladiator, James Bond 007: Specter, Alien: Covenant).
Filming is scheduled to begin this year. Jackson’s work had a strong influence on him, including in his early career as a music video director, Fugua says. In the 1990s, Fuqua collaborated with musicians such as Prince, Queen Latifah and Toni Braxton.
According to the studio Lionsgate, the film will look at the entire life of the “King of Pop”, who became one of the most famous singers in the world with hits like “Billie Jean”, “Beat It” and “Thriller”. His eccentric lifestyle and allegations of abuse later scratched his image. The pop star, who was on stage with his siblings as “The Jackson Five” as a child, died in 2009 at the age of 50.
