Michael Jackson’s Real-Life Mother’s Reaction To Michael Biopic Revealed By Producer

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Graham King, the producer of the new Michael Jackson biopic, recently shared what Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, believes about the film, despite some criticism from reviewers and disagreements within the family.

I read an interview with Liam Crowley from ScreenRant where Stephen King shared a really cool story. He actually went to Katherine Jackson’s home and showed her Jafaar Jackson – Michael’s nephew, who’s playing him in the movie – all made up in hair and makeup, so she could get a feel for how he looks as Michael. It sounds like she was really pleased with the transformation!

The producer shared that the 95-year-old woman was deeply touched, and when she recognized the voice, she simply said, “That’s Michael.” King was amazed that they had managed to evoke such a strong reaction even from Michael Jackson’s own mother.

It was an amazing experience, truly a career highlight. Visiting Katherine and showing her the actor transformed into Michael – the hair, the makeup – was incredibly emotional. Seeing her reaction, especially as she was in a wheelchair and simply said, ‘That’s Michael,’ was deeply touching. It was incredible to bring that level of realism to his own mother. It also made me hopeful that this young actor could perform and even dance convincingly.

Though Michael marks Jafaar Jackson’s first time in a feature film, he’s no stranger to the entertainment world. He previously appeared on the reality shows Living with the Jacksons and The Jacksons: Next Generation, and has also released two singles.

Jafaar portrays the singer as an adult, while Juliano Krue Valdi plays him as a child, specifically during the time Michael Jackson was with The Jackson 5. Katherine Jackson reacted to photos of Valdi in much the same way she did when she first saw Jafaar.

I have to say, this young actor is clearly building a resume! While he’s mostly done smaller roles – you might recognize him from guest spots on shows like 9-1-1, The Loud House, and The Hug Machine – he’s also a bit of a social media star. He regularly posts videos of himself dancing, and he’s got some serious moves, even tackling Michael Jackson choreography. It’s clear he’s a performer in every sense of the word.

King said Valdi was incredibly energetic, to the point of being overwhelming – much like Jackson was at the same age. This made Valdi a natural fit for the role.

According to King, Valdi immediately impressed everyone during his audition. The young actor was already very familiar with Michael Jackson’s music, starting with the Bad album. Now, the filmmakers want to ensure he also masters the music and dance styles of the Motown era, as that’s the period he’ll be portraying in the film.

He’s incredibly charismatic – Juliano Krue Valdi just fills a room with energy, it’s almost overwhelming! But from what I gathered researching young Michael Jackson, he was the same way at that age. That connection really resonated with us, and Juliano completely wowed us in the audition. We knew almost immediately he was right for the role. He was already familiar with Michael’s later work, like the ‘Bad’ album, so we challenged him to also master the Motown songs and the specific dance style from that era.

Michael focuses on the first part of the singer’s life, especially his time with The Jackson 5 – the group behind hits like “I’ll Be There” and “I Want You Back” – and the beginning of his career as a solo artist, up through the peak of his fame in the 1980s.

The film also includes popular songs like “Beat It,” “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.”

The cast of Jafaar Jackson and Valdi’s new project includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long as Katherine, Miles Teller, Jamal R. Henderson, Tre Horton, Rhyan Hill, Joseph David-Jones, Jessica Sula, Kendrick Sampson, and Larenz Tate.

As a huge movie fan, I’ve been following the buzz around Antoine Fuqua’s new biopic, and it’s been getting a lot of attention lately – especially from critics. Right now, it’s sitting at 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a bit disheartening. However, I did read a really positive review from ScreenRant, so I’m still hoping it’ll be good despite the overall critical response.

Not everyone in the family is pleased with this project. Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, has spoken out strongly, saying the film contains inaccuracies and falsehoods. After Domingo stated publicly that Paris supported the movie, she quickly denied his claim and clarified she wasn’t involved in it at all.

While Paris Jackson isn’t thrilled with how Michael is portrayed, Katherine Jackson is very impressed with the actors who are playing her son in the movie.

Michael will be released in theaters on Friday, April 24, 2026.

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2026-04-23 01:13