The Michael Jackson biopic movie Michael, being directed by Antoine Fuqua from a script by John Logan, has been ramping up on the casting front since Deadline first broke the story of the project in January 2023. The film is underway on production ahead of an April 18, 2025 release date via Lionsgate and Universal.
The film will focus on Jackson’s career highlights beginning with the days he fronted the Jackson 5 to becoming the world’s biggest star but also deal with the pedophile accusations that dogged his later years up to his death in 2009 at age 50.
Casting started at the beginning. when Fuqua and producer Graham King tapped Jackson’s nephew and Jermaine Jackson’s son Jaafar to portray Michael in the singer’s prime. Juliano Krue Valdi has been set as the young Michael.
Fuqua said he’s been “blown away” by Jaafar’s resemblance to the King of Pop, telling EW he “sounds like him, dances like him, sings. It’s really uncanny.”
Others now cast in the film include Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Jackson’s influential parents Joe and Katherine, and Miles Teller as Jackson attorney John Branca. A group of eight actors — four younger, four older — have been set to play Michael’s brothers Jermaine, Marlon, Tito and Jackie: Jayden Harville and Jamal R. Henderson (Jermaine), Jaylen Lyndon Hunter and Tre Horton (Marlon), Judah Edwards and Rhyan Hill (Tito) and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre and Joseph David-Jones (Jackie).
Scroll below for the actors and who they’re playing, and keep checking back as more are confirmed.
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Jaafar Jackson playing Michael Jackson
Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson
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Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson: First-Look Image
Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’ biopic, and Michael Jackson onstage at London’s Wembley Stadium in 1992
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Juliano Krue Valdi playing young Michael Jackson
Juliano Krue Valdi, Michael Jackson
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Colman Domingo playing Joe Jackson
Colman Domingo and Joe Jackson
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Nia Long playing Katherine Jackson
Nia Long, Katherine Jackson
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Miles Teller playing John Branca
Miles Teller, John Branca
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Jayden Harville & Jamal R. Henderson playing Jermaine Jackson
(L-R) Younger Jermaine played by Jayden Harville, and older by Jamal R. Henderson
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Judah Edwards and Rhyan Hill playing Tito Jackson
(L-R) Younger Tito played by Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, and older by Tre Horton
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Jaylen Lyndon Hunter and Tre Horton playing Marlon Jackson
(L-R) Younger Marlon played by Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, and older by Tre Horton
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Nathaniel Logan McIntyre and Joseph David-Jones playing Jackie Jackson
(L-R) Younger Jackie played by Nathaniel Logan McIntyre, and older played by Joseph David-Jones
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Jessica Sula playing La Toya Jackson
playing La Toya
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Larenz Tate playing Berry Gordy
Larenz Tate playing Berry Gordy
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Kat Graham playing Diana Ross
Kat Graham playing Diana Ross
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Liv Symone playing Gladys Knight
Liv Symone playing Gladys Knight
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Kendrick Sampson playing Quincy Jones
Kendrick Sampson playing Quincy Jones
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Kevin Shinick playing Dick Clark
Kevin Shinick playing Dick Clark
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Derek Luke playing Johnnie Cochran
Derek Luke playing Johnnie Cochran
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