Jaafar Jackson on Portraying Michael Jackson in Upcoming Biopic: 'I Wanted to Prove to Myself I Can Do This' Jaafar Jackson has shared insights into his experience of portraying the iconic Michael Jackson in the upcoming biopic, discussing the intense preparation and personal motivation behind the role. In a featurette titled "Becoming Michael," released by Universal Pictures UK, Jackson reflects on the challenges of embodying the King of Pop. He acknowledges the difficulty of the task, stating it was "not easy" but something he embraced as a challenge. Jackson emphasized his determination to prove to himself, his family, and the filmmakers that he could successfully take on the role. He described spending countless hours rehearsing, refining each movement until it felt perfect. At times, he practiced so intensely that his feet would bleed or go numb. He recounted moments of self-doubt, questioning whether to continue rehearsing or take a break, but ultimately pushed through by asking himself, "What would Michael do?" As the day of the performance approached, Jackson found himself in a reflective state, acknowledging the gravity of the moment. He described feeling a mix of awe and resolve, stating, "Wow. I'm really here. There's no going back. It's time to go out there and put on the best show ever." The featurette also highlights behind-the-scenes moments of Jackson practicing choreography on set, alongside interviews with director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King. The film, titled Michael, aims to provide fans with an in-depth look at the life and career of the legendary artist. The cast includes Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.#michael_jackson #antoine_fuqua #jaafar_jackson #universal_pictures_uk #graham_king
