How Jaafar Jackson Prepared to Play His Uncle in 'Michael'

From studying his uncle’s journals to rehearsing one dance move until it hurt, the first-time film star left nothing to chance. Here’s a look inside his journey, and the note from Michael that still guides him.

It took two years for Jaafar Jackson to prepare for his role portraying his uncle Michael Jackson, but it was well worth it.

It began with a list of goals. One of them was to beat “Bohemian Rhapsody” and achieve $1 billion at the worldwide box office. He eventually checked that box.

Jaafar Jackson at the Hollywood premiere of "Michael" on April 20, 2026 | Source: Getty Images

The Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic, "Michael," in which Jaafar plays his late uncle, became the first biopic ever to pass $1 billion worldwide, overtaking “Oppenheimer” as the highest-grossing biopic of all time. It’s also Lionsgate’s biggest film ever.

“I was pretty emotional,” Jaafar told Variety. “I know how proud Michael would be of that, because he was someone who wanted to break many records.”

For the actor’s first feature film, it was more than he could ask for. But he had put in the work, and that definitely paid off.

Before Jaafar officially landed the role, he had been building his own archive of his uncle’s songs, demos, journals, performances, and rehearsals, studying them every day. “It became a full-time job,” he said of the two years of preparation.

Jaafar Jackson poses for photogaphers as he arrives on the red carpet for the world premiere of the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" in Berlin on April 10, 2026 | Source: Getty Images

He also trained with acting coach Angela Gibbs and read about the techniques of famous acting teachers like Stanislavski, Meisner, and Uta Hagen, choosing the tools that worked best for him.

Jaafar began with the voice. When he sent producer Graham King a voice note of himself speaking as Michael, he remembered, “He called me and said, ‘Getting you a coach tomorrow.’ That was the turning point.”

The King of Pop was known for his impeccable dance moves, and Jaafar wasn’t going to disappoint. For his performance in the film’s “Bad” sequence, he rehearsed over and over until it became second nature to him. He said the toughest part was rising onto his toes, which eventually hurt after attempting the move so many times. “I had a whole new respect for ballet dancers,” he said.

In the film, Colman Domingo played Jaafar’s grandfather, Joe Jackson, and it was an eye-opener for the young actor, seeing the stricter side of his grandfather, the one his father grew up with, portrayed on screen.

His father, Jermaine Jackson, watched the full film for the first time during the premiere in Berlin, and he couldn’t help but call his son the next day, saying how incredible his portrayal was, and that in many moments, he couldn’t tell the difference between his son and his brother.

“That’s the highest reward,” Jaafar said, “to get that from your parents and your family.”

As he enjoys the success of his first feature film venture, Jaafar is keeping his uncle’s advice in mind. In a note the late singer had written, Jaafar found a message: don’t become jaded, stay present, and find beauty in simple things.

“The way I found [the note], I felt like I was supposed to hear that,” Jaafar said.