Jaafar Jackson has addressed the questions about the storyline for the Michael Jackson biopic sequel.
The late iconic singer’s nephew took on his role in the movie that hit theaters early this year. The major success of the film has been accompanied by swirling questions, as fans are eager for a second part.
Jaafar Jackson made history with his acting debut in Michael Jackson’s biopic. The film grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making the singer’s nephew the first debutant to headline a film that crossed the billion-dollar mark.
How Jaafar Jackson Wants Michael Jackson To Be Remembered
Jaafar recently addressed his massive breakout role in “Michael,” where he stepped into his late uncle’s shoes. The possibility of a sequel has been ringing in the minds of many, and the singer-turned-actor has responded to suggestions about what it should cover.
In an interview with Variety, Jaafar was asked whether he had a message for people with ideas about the allegations against the “Smooth Criminal” singer. In response, the actor pointed them to Michael’s music and charitable endeavors, which are part of his long-standing legacy.
“Finding out who Michael was is in his music. It’s in his lyrics. It’s in the poems he wrote, the videos, the messages he put out, the talks he gave on panels and at universities. It’s in what he devoted so much time to: charities, visiting other countries, and visiting countless children,” Jaafar told the outlet.
The Actor Answered Heated Questions About His Uncle’s Controversies
Jaafar touched on the controversial subjects linked to his late musician uncle’s name. He explained that the storyline for a potential sequel isn’t in his hands, since his job is to perform and act.
“Part two, I can’t say, because I don’t know. It’s not up to me. My job is to come prepared and deliver the best performance I can. But to know Michael, it starts with the music,” the 30-year-old singer explained.
He added that he hasn’t “been told anything concrete” about the sequel, but if the wheels are set in motion, he’s “more than ready” to step back into his uncle’s shoes.
In a previous interview, Jaafar addressed the omission of the King of Pop’s controversies, including several child sex abuse allegations. At the time, the “Michael” star said he thought the second film would shed more light on the incidents from his uncle’s point of view.
What Was The King Of Pop Accused Of?
In 1993, Michael was accused of sexually molesting a 13-year-old boy later identified as Jordan Chandler. They claimed that the singer had befriended the minor before making him sleep in his bed and touching him inappropriately. The “Thriller” hitmaker settled the civil lawsuit out of court for about $25 million without admitting guilt.
Ten years later, Michael was arrested and charged with another child molestation case involving a cancer survivor. He was eventually indicted on 10 criminal counts, including child molestation, abduction, false imprisonment, and extortion.
The case went to trial two years later, and the singer’s defense called Macaulay Culkin and Wade Robson to testify. Both young boys maintained that they never experienced anything inappropriate during their interactions with Michael.
The “Billie Jean” vocalist died in 2009 at age 50; however, that did not end the accusations against him. Earlier this year, four siblings, Edward, Dominic, and Aldo Cascio, and their sister, Marie-Nicole Porte, accused Michael of being a “serial child predator” who, “over the course of more than a decade, drugged, raped, and sexually assaulted” them.
NBC News reported that the musician’s lawyer, Martin Singer, slammed the claims, tagging the lawsuit as a “desperate money grab,” as the siblings previously confirmed Michael never harmed them.
Jaafar Hit A Major Milestone With ‘Michael’
Prior to taking on the role of his late iconic uncle in the April 2026 biopic, Jaafar had no acting experience. However, the 30-year-old singer embodied the role beautifully and made cinematic history with his performance.
The Blast shared that the biopic grossed more than $1.001 billion worldwide in its first three months. This put Jaafar’s name on the charts as the first debutant to headline a film to cross the billion-dollar mark. He is also the first leading actor in history to debut a billion-dollar movie.
The film opened with $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide in its first week. At the time, the figures set a new opening-week record for a music biopic. “Michael” also made history as the first biopic to join the billion-dollar club, surpassing “Bohemian Rhapsody” as the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time.
Jaafar Jackson Was ‘Honored’ To Step Into Michael Jackson’s Shoes For The Biopic
Applause for Jaafar’s performance has not stopped since the film hit screens earlier this year. Preparations, however, were put in place a few years ago, and the young singer already started practicing to put his best foot forward.
In 2023, Jaafar posted a black-and-white photo of himself in a dancing pose similar to the late King of Pop’s moves. “I’m humbled and honored to bring my Uncle Michael’s story to life. To all the fans all over the world, I’ll see you soon,” he wrote in the caption.
Praise has already started rolling in for the Grammy Winner’s nephew, as many netizens praised the crew for the impeccable casting. “Who the heck can complain about this casting? An actual JACKSON playing Mike Fantastic decision,” a fan wrote.
The biopic director, Antoine Fuqua, also praised Jaafar for getting into character and effortlessly emulating his uncle’s moves, The Blast reported.
Will Jaafar Jackson give the same iconic performance when Michael Jackson’s sequel hits?
