Jaafar Jackson Eyes Nuanced Portrayal of Late Uncle in Upcoming ‘Michael’ Sequel

Actor Jaafar Jackson, who earned critical praise for his transformative performance as his late uncle in the record-breaking biopic Michael, has shared his aspirations for the franchise’s future. Speaking in a recent interview, the 30-year-old actor expressed hope that the developing sequel will provide a deeper, more personal perspective on the complex child sexual abuse allegations that shadowed the King of Pop’s later life.

Bringing Michael’s Voice to the Screen

While Jaafar—the son of Michael’s brother, Jermaine Jackson—noted that he does not have creative control over the script, he remains a vocal advocate for prioritizing his uncle’s own narrative.

"I think the second film will give even more insight from his point of view, because at the end of the day, [the allegations] are always from someone else’s," Jaafar stated. He argued that public discourse surrounding the late superstar has frequently been "driven by an agenda."

"It’s someone else’s story. It’s someone else’s idea of what it is… That’s really the issue we’ve been having as a family, not having Michael’s voice being heard. I think that’s very, very important, especially in the late years," he added.

Building a Foundation

The first installment of the project, which chronicles the Jackson family’s meteoric rise from their early Motown roots through the height of the Bad era in the late 1980s, was designed to humanize the global icon. By grounding the narrative in his formative years, the filmmakers aimed to establish a portrait of a man defined by innate kindness.

"You understand who he was as a human being first," Jaafar explained. "He never changed that purity, that sense of always wanting to find the good in other people. And no matter all the stuff he went through, how he was treated, what things were said about him, he never stopped treating people with kindness."

Reflecting on the psychological toll the spotlight took on his uncle, Jaafar described him as a man who was "broken" by his circumstances, yet remained steadfast in his compassion—a sentiment he hopes will resonate with audiences in the forthcoming sequel.

The Path Forward

The first Michael biopic has been a commercial juggernaut, officially becoming the highest-grossing biopic in history after crossing the $1 billion mark at the global box office.

Following the massive success of the debut, Lionsgate is moving quickly to expand the cinematic universe. While actor Miles Teller, who portrays lawyer-manager John Branca, confirmed the development of a sequel earlier this spring, studio head Adam Fogelson recently indicated that production is being targeted for late this year or early 2025.

As the team prepares to tackle the more controversial and turbulent chapters of Michael Jackson’s life, fans and critics alike are watching closely to see how the sequel navigates the delicate balance between historical record and the Jackson family’s desire to reframe the public perception of the late star.