Jaafar Jackson Never Planned to Act Before His Life-Changing Call About ‘Michael’
When ‘Michael’ hit theaters on April 24, 2026, it not only presented a sweeping portrayal of the King of Pop to a new audience but also marked the beginning of an acting career for a young man who, by his own admission, never envisioned himself in front of a movie camera.
Jaafar Jackson, the 29-year-old son of Jermaine Jackson, grew up within one of the most renowned musical families in history. However, his early aspirations were directed elsewhere. Before music beckoned, Jaafar dreamed of becoming a professional golfer, with his interest in singing and dancing only sparking around the age of 12. Even after music became a passion, acting was far from his mind.
That all changed in 2020 when producer Graham King reached out with a concept that would alter Jaafar’s life path. Reflecting on that pivotal moment in an interview, Jaafar candidly shared, “Growing up, I wanted to be a golfer. I was into sports. I never dreamed of wanting to be an actor until the moment I had that conversation with producer Graham King.” Those words resonate deeply considering the journey that followed.
The audition process was anything but conventional. Instead of following typical routes, Jaafar sent King a voice note of himself impersonating Michael Jackson, which prompted an immediate callback. King, the Oscar-nominated producer behind ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘The Aviator’, had already assessed nearly 200 actors in a global search before choosing Jermaine’s son. Describing that initial meeting, King told NME, “It was just a feeling of rightness that was so strong I couldn’t ignore it,” adding that there was “something so spiritual” about Jaafar that moved him emotionally.
Even after that initial connection, securing the role was not a certainty. Jaafar described the entire process as spanning several years, involving extensive acting coaching and rigorous dance training. He trained under Rich and Tone Talauega, Michael’s own choreographers from the HIStory World Tour, and had just 20 days at one crucial point to demonstrate his ability to perform the ‘Billie Jean’ material to the filmmakers’ satisfaction.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua with a screenplay by John Logan, ‘Michael’ debuted to $97.5 million domestically in its opening weekend and has since surpassed $423 million at the global box office. Audiences have rated the film with an A-minus CinemaScore, although critics have shown mixed reactions. Owen Gleiberman of Variety referred to it as a “surprisingly effective middle-of-the-road biopic” and commended Jaafar for capturing the look, voice, and “electrostatic moves” that made his uncle legendary.
His grandmother, Katherine Jackson, remarked that she sometimes couldn’t tell if she was watching Jaafar or Michael himself, a reaction Jaafar considers the highest compliment he could receive. For someone who once aimed for a very different kind of green, Jaafar Jackson’s transition to acting may turn out to be the most extraordinary shot he has ever taken.
Share your thoughts in the comments about Jaafar Jackson’s unexpected journey from aspiring golfer to Hollywood’s latest leading man.