Summary

• Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's real-life nephew, makes his acting debut in the upcoming biopic Michael.
• Juliano Krue Valdi portrays young Michael during the Jackson 5 era, showcasing iconic hits like "ABC."
• The film includes strong actors like Miles Teller and could explore darker moments in the King of Pop's career.

The 2025 Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, cast a few notable debut actors to play the legendary King of Pop as his journey to stardom unfolds. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, chronicles the many highs and lows of Michael Jackson's career. This includes his time in the Jackson 5, the creation of many of his legendary songs, and some of the many controversies surrounding the singer both during his career and after his death in 2009.

The film was announced in 2019 by Bohemian Rhapsody producer Graham King, who secured the rights to produce a film about Jackson's life. The film was written by John Logan, with the distribution rights acquired by Lionsgate in 2022. The film production was set to begin in mid-2023 but was halted by the SAG-AFTA strikes and was not resumed until early 2024.

Michael Jackson's Real Life Nephew, Jaafar Jackson, Plays Him In Michael

Micheal is Jaafar's debut acting role

Jaafar Jackson plays his uncle in the Michael Jackson biopic, specifically during the solo portion of his career. Jaafar is the second-youngest son of Jermaine Jackson, Michael's brother and former bandmate. While this may be Jaafar's first acting role, he does have a few musical accomplishments like his uncle, including his single "Got Me Singing" and the covers he has done of songs by Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. He has also been featured in a few other projects with his family, including the series The Jacksons: Next Generation and the "Love One Another" music video for Tito Jackson.

Young Michael Jackson Is Played By Juliano Krue Valdi In The 2025 Movie

Juliano Krue Valdi plays the King of Pop during his time in the Jackson 5. The 9-year-old Valdi was an admirer of Jackson's, stating that he loved the late singer's energy, demonstrating that love on TikTok as he danced in Times Square dressed as Jackson to promote the film. Valdi depicts Jackson in his younger years as he and his family created hits such as "ABC" and "I Want You Back" before Jackson became a solo music entertainer later in life.

The remaining cast for Michael includes Miles Teller, who plays one of Jackson's attorneys, John Branca, who also acted as Jackson's manager for a time. This reflects King's desire for the biopic to explore Michael Jackson's darker moments, such as his financial decline and the controversy surrounding his final will and testament, as Branca was largely involved. Other cast members include The Color Purple star Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson with Tre Horton, Rhyan Hill, and Joseph David-Jones cast as the remaining members of the Jackson 5 in their later years.

Michael is, at the time of writing, set to premiere on April 18, 2025.