LOS ANGELES - The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic has not even hit theaters yet, but its star is already looking ahead to a sequel. Jaafar Jackson, who portrays his late uncle in the Antoine Fuqua-directed film, says a follow-up would dig deeper into the child abuse allegations that shadowed the King of Pop’s later years - and would finally give Jackson a chance to answer them on screen.
“There’s so much more to tell,” Jaafar Jackson told reporters during a press event for the film, which opens April 22. “The first movie is about the rise, the magic, the music. But the second part - that’s where we let his voice be heard. We give more insight into the allegations, into what he went through, into what he said. It’s important.”
Those comments mark the first time a member of the Jackson family has publicly tied a potential sequel to the abuse claims that haunted Michael Jackson’s career. The original film, which has earned a stellar 8.673 rating on TMDb ahead of its release, focuses predominantly on the entertainer’s early life - from his discovery as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 to his transformation into a global solo superstar. But with a runtime of 128 minutes, the feature can only cover so much ground, and Jaafar Jackson insists the story is far from complete.
“He was the most misunderstood person in the world,” the 29-year-old actor said. “People saw the headlines, the trials, the tabloids. They didn’t see the man who stayed up all night writing songs for children’s hospitals, who called his mom every single day. I want people to understand that side, and a sequel gives us room to do that.”
The allegations in question date back to 1993, when Michael Jackson was first accused of sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy. The case was settled out of court for a reported $22 million, though Jackson maintained his innocence. In 2003, a second accusation led to a high-profile criminal trial in Santa Maria, California; Jackson was acquitted on all 10 counts in 2005. He died in 2009 at age 50, just weeks before a planned series of comeback concerts in London.
The existing film touches on those controversies only marginally, according to early reviews. Instead, director Antoine Fuqua chose to emphasize Jackson’s artistic evolution - his groundbreaking work on “Thriller,” “Bad,” and “Dangerous,” his collaborations with Quincy Jones, and his unprecedented influence on pop culture. The cast includes Colman Domingo as Joseph Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as John Branca, with Juliano Krue Valdi playing a young Michael.
For Jaafar Jackson, who grew up idolizing his uncle and spent years perfecting his dance moves and vocal delivery for the role, the sequel would represent a personal mission. “I know him differently than the world does,” he said. “I grew up hearing stories from my father, from my grandmother, from people who were in the room. There’s a truth there that’s never been told on screen. We owe it to him to tell it.”
The actor declined to share specific plot details or a production timeline for the sequel, noting that the first film had yet to premiere. But he hinted that the second installment would not shy away from difficult material, even if it risks reopening old wounds. “If we’re going to tell his story, we have to tell all of it,” he said. “That’s what he would have wanted. Not to hide, not to run - but to stand and be heard.”
Whether a sequel actually moves forward remains an open question. Studios typically wait for box-office performance before greenlighting follow-ups, and the biopic’s commercial prospects are still unknown. But early industry buzz has been strong, thanks in part to Fuqua’s reputation for muscular, emotionally charged filmmaking and Jaafar Jackson’s uncanny resemblance to his uncle in every released still and trailer.
In the meantime, the young actor is focused on the film’s release and on honoring the legacy he carries. “I don’t take this lightly,” he said. “Every day on set felt like a responsibility. He gave so much to the world. If this movie helps even one person understand him a little better, then we’ve done our job.”
Jaafar Jackson added that he hopes the sequel - if it comes to pass - will be a conversation starter, not a final word. “You can’t sum up a life like his in one film or two,” he said. “But you can try. And I’ll keep trying for as long as they’ll let me.”
Michael opens in theaters nationwide on April 22.
Source: Variety
