The late pop star's nephew Jaafar Jackson stars in the Lionsgate feature that hits theaters this spring.
, most recently having been dated for the fall of 2025. Marking his feature debut is Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role as the pop“It’s a very spiritual journey, making a movie about someone like Michael,” Fuqua says in a video that Lionsgate released Monday.
“Michael was a big influence on my career as a director, seeing how he refused to get put in a box as just a Black artist only.” as his mother, Katherine. Rounding out the cast are Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate and Derek Luke.“Michael’s whole life was giving to people this joy of his voice,” Fuqua continues in the video. “When I watched him on TV, he was always larger than life. For me as a filmmaker, it wasn’t a leap to see it in a cinematic way.”as a human being unless you went back and go on a bit of a journey. He was struggling between his love for his family and his love for his music.”, initially intended to span the star’s life and have a lengthy run time, had pivoted and would instead end with Jackson leaving his family’s group The Jacksons after the release of his first solo album, 1979’s . According to sources, a second film remains in development that would focus on the rest of Jackson’s career and path prior to his 2009 death.s previously planned third act had to be retooled, due to it including a dramatization of an individual who accused Jackson of child sexual abuse. The accuser had a past settlement with the performer’s estate stipulating that he would never be dramatized. “Why I wanted to make it is Michael,” Fuqua said during a San Diego Comic-Con panel in 2024. “Michael was a big part of my life growing up, a big influence on my career, an incredible artist — but he was a human being, and we’re exploring that.”Filmmaker John Patton Ford Wanted ‘How to Make a Killing’ to Say More Than Just “Rich People Are Bad, Period”Tourette’s Campaigner John Davidson Says He Is “Deeply Mortified” if Anyone Considers “Involuntary Tics to Be Intentional” After BAFTA BacklashLacey RoseThe Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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