Jaafar Jackson Says He Rehearsed Until His Feet Bled for Michael Jackson Biopic
The video shifts the marketing narrative from the film's box office success to the physical commitment of its lead, framing the biopic as a performance-driven project rather than a spectacle.
Key Facts
- Jaafar Jackson rehearsed for hours until his feet bled and went numb for the Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael'.
- The special video 'Becoming Michael' was released for the film, which opens in Japan on June 12.
- Director Antoine Fuqua praised Jackson's attention to detail, saying Michael's dance moves are not easy to imitate.
- The film earned 103,825,600 yen over the weekend in Japan, with 24 sold-out screenings.
- Worldwide, the film has reached $890 million in cumulative box office as of June 8.
Reporting from 2 sources: Eiga Natalie, Cinema Today.
A special video titled 'Becoming Michael' has been released for the biographical film 'Michael', which opens in Japan on June 12. The video shows lead actor Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's real-life nephew, discussing the grueling preparation for the role. Jackson said he rehearsed for hours until his feet bled and went numb, and that every morning he had to remind himself that Michael would not take a day off. The video also includes comments from director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King. Fuqua praised Jackson's attention to detail, saying Michael's dance moves are not easy to imitate. The film had advance IMAX screenings in 62 Japanese theaters starting June 5, with 278 limited screenings over three days. Many screenings sold out, especially in urban areas. The film earned 103,825,600 yen over the weekend, with 24 sold-out screenings. Worldwide, the film has reached $890 million in cumulative box office as of June 8. The film depicts Michael Jackson's early career, including his relationship with his father and the creation of his iconic songs.
The special video, titled "Becoming Michael," includes comments from director Antoine Fuqua, producer Graham King, and choreographers Rich + Tone. Rich + Tone performed as a dancer on Michael Jackson's "HIStory World Tour" and served as choreographer for the film. Fuqua, known for "Training Day" and "The Equalizer" series, praised Jackson's attention to detail. King, who produced "Bohemian Rhapsody," said the production discussed "many times whether Jaafar could recreate the world's most famous moves."
Jackson is the son of Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson. In the video, he says, "I knew playing Michael Jackson would be a challenge. I love challenges. I wanted to prove to myself, my family, and the directors that I could do it." He also describes looking in the mirror before stepping on stage: "There's no turning back now. Give them the best show."
The film's final visual has also been released. It shows Jackson as Michael in the red jacket from "Beat It." The cast includes Juliano Valdi as young Michael, Coleman Domingo as father Joseph, Nia Long as mother Katherine, Kendrick Sampson as music producer Quincy Jones, and Miles Teller as lawyer John Branca. The film opens in Japan on June 12. It will begin streaming overseas on June 9.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Eiga Natalie マイケル・ジャクソンになるための日々、甥ジャファーが「Michael／マイケル」の壮絶なリハ語る
- Cinema Today 『Michael／マイケル』特別映像公開 足から出血し感覚がなくなるまで…マイケル役への覚悟とは？