The creators of the biopic "Michael" are preparing a second part that will cover the later years of the King of Pop's life and address the allegations of sexual abuse he faced in the 1990s and 2000s. The sequel will reveal the family's perspective, reports infohub.kz.
The lead role will again be played by the artist's nephew, 30-year-old Jaafar Jackson. In a recent interview with GQ Middle East, he shared details about the upcoming project and how playing his uncle has changed his life.
The first part of the film covers Michael Jackson's childhood through the late 1980s and the release of the album "Bad." In the sequel, the creators want to give the musician himself a voice.
Jaafar noted that the accusations against the singer have always come from others. The second film aims to show events from Michael's point of view, as his voice has long been unheard. According to his nephew, despite constant press pressure and hardships, Jackson remained kind and sincere to the end, always seeing the good in people.
"This is someone else's story. It's someone else's version of what happened, and they have a certain agenda. The problem we face as a family is the absence of Michael's own voice," Jaafar said.
In the interview, Jaafar also revealed that he dreamed of becoming a professional golfer, not a musician. His father, Jermaine Jackson, convinced him to follow in the family's footsteps when he was 13. Additionally, Jaafar shared that while preparing for the role, he gained access to his uncle's diaries.
"In one entry, he wrote: 'When I step outside, I want 10,000 people to stop and just look at me.' He kept that childlike view of the world until the end of his life," the actor said.
While performing as Michael Jackson on stage, Jaafar realized he had experienced the pinnacle of what an artist could dream of. Now he wants to grow as a dramatic actor and take on complex roles. Jaafar also hinted that his famous aunt, Janet Jackson, has plans for her own biopic, so her story was not developed in detail in this project.
Production on the second part of "Michael" is planned to begin late this year or early next. The first film has already become the highest-grossing biopic in history, earning over $1 billion worldwide.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that a sequel to "Michael" was already in development. Lionsgate has officially confirmed it is working on a follow-up to the Michael Jackson biopic.