Why Jafar Jackson plays Michael, not the singer’s son Prince or Biggie
Jafar Jackson explains why he, and not Michael Jackson’s sons, was cast in Michael and reveals that he hid the role from his family for a year. The account outlined how training, screen tests and family reactions shaped the biopic’s most scrutinized decision.
When a biopic is made around a global icon, the casting becomes the first big talking point. So when the creator of michael When the lead role of Jafar Jackson – Michael Jackson’s nephew – was announced, many wondered why the role did not go to the pop legend’s own sons. As it turns out, the answer lies in training, career choices, and a lengthy casting process.
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Jermaine Jackson’s son Jafar, 29, plays his late uncle in the Antoine Fuqua-directed film. In conversation with co-star Miles Teller for Interview Magazine, he revealed that he kept his casting a secret from his family – including his mother, Alejandra Genevieve Oziaza – for almost a year.
Why was Jafar chosen instead of Prince and Biggie?
Although casting one of Michael Jackson’s sons might have seemed like a natural choice, after a rigorous two-year global search the producers took a different route. The role ultimately went to Jafar, who already had years of training as a singer and dancer – skills considered necessary to portray the King of Pop on screen.
Michael Jackson’s son has mostly stayed away from an acting career. Prince Jackson (1997) previously stated that he did not feel suited to singing or dancing and preferred to work behind the scenes in production and through his charitable initiatives. Biggie Jackson (2002), considered more personal, shows interest in filmmaking, focusing on directing and producing rather than acting.
Director Fuqua and producer Graham King reportedly conducted a worldwide search before finalizing Jafar. The decision was due to what the team described as his natural similarity to Michael Jackson’s mannerisms.
A globally sought after and demanding role
Jafar had already spent years honing his craft as a performer, and the film’s score is said to be a blend of his voice with Jackson’s original recordings. Crew members noted that, during screen tests, he was able to capture the singer’s suave and restrained appearance with surprising accuracy.
The role also came with intense physical demands. Jafar trained for over a year before filming and practiced the choreography extensively – reportedly to the extent that his legs started bleeding.
The casting was supported by the Jackson family, including Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine Jackson and her children. Prince and Biggie are seen supporting Jafar in the premiere, with Prince saying in interviews that watching him transform into Michael was an emotional experience.
In his conversation with Taylor, Jaffer shared that he decided to keep his casting a secret for almost a year. Even his mother came to the set without knowing what was going to happen.
“She came to the set once, but she had no idea what was going to happen,” he said. “Even in the process of preparing for it, I didn’t tell him for a whole year.”
When Taylor asked if his family found out after he was cast, Jafar replied, “No. No one in my family knew for a whole year. I kept it quiet until I felt comfortable enough to share it.”
He said that seeing him on screen was an emotional moment for his mother, who at first found it difficult to separate the performance from reality.
Jafar seeing himself as Michael
Jaffer, who started his acting career with the film, also talked about watching it michael For the first time. He said that initially he tried not to analyze his performance too much but found the experience amazing.
“As soon as it came out, it was a completely different experience than I had imagined,” he said. “It happened very fast.”
He said that the second viewing allowed him to better appreciate the film overall. “I was able to understand what the story was and really allowed myself to enjoy what’s on the screen, rather than thinking about all the things we shot that aren’t there.”
Along with Jafar and Taylor, the film also stars Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross.
As the casting selection shows, while Prince and Biggie carry on the individual legacy of Michael Jackson, it was Jafar who brought specific training, performance background, and preparation to the role.