Jaafar Jackson left audiences captivated in a late-night television appearance as he opened up about what it felt like to play Michael Jackson in the upcoming biopic ‘Michael.’
The 29-year-old nephew of the late King of Pop said it was a “surreal, spiritual moment” that made him emotional as he saw his own reflection transformed into his iconic uncle.
Jaafar Jackson Reveals Emotional Moment While Becoming Michael Jackson
While appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, Jaafar Jackson spoke about the demanding process of stepping into Michael Jackson’s role in the highly anticipated biopic, set for release on April 22. Host Jimmy Fallon asked him about the key moment in front of the mirror, saying, “Do you look in the mirror and go, ‘What’s going on?’ Or do you go, ‘This is surreal. This is my uncle, this is crazy’?”
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Jackson, who is making his acting debut, replied by praising the film’s makeup designer, Bill Corso (known for Foxcatcher), for the realism of the transformation. “It was really a surreal, a spiritual moment at the same time,” he said. “Spending all those hours in the makeup chair….just that process of seeing me slowly transform into Michael was, it was emotional.”
Jaafar Jackson’s Intense Two-Year Transformation Into the King of Pop
The transformation goes far beyond prosthetics and wigs. Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson, has spent more than two years preparing for the role. He trained extensively to match Michael Jackson’s famous dance moves, voice, and stage presence, from the Motown 25 performance to the Bad tour, and even recreating the ‘Thriller’ music video on stage.
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In one behind-the-scenes moment, Jackson said that while fully dressed in costume, with hair, makeup, and wardrobe, he told himself, “Wow, I’m really here. There’s no going back.”
Why Antoine Fuqua Chose a Jackson Family Member to Tell Michael’s Story
The film ‘Michael‘ will follow the rise of the global star, blending big performance scenes with personal moments from his life.
Director Antoine Fuqua decided to keep the role within the family, believing that Jaafar Jackson’s hard work and personal connection to the family would help him show a real and honest version of Michael Jackson’s journey to worldwide fame.
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