Months after the premiere of Michael, the cast and filmmakers reunited in Los Angeles on October 17 for a special awards-season screening and Q&A at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theatre.
The event was attended by director Antoine Fuqua, producer Graham King, Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Colman Domingo and Giuliano Valdi, who plays young Michael. The screening was reportedly standing room only, with applause throughout the event and a standing ovation for Jaafar.
One of the most fascinating parts of the conversation was the story behind Jaafar’s casting and his transformation into his uncle, Michael Jackson.
Graham King revealed that he had considered more than 200 candidates while searching for the right person to portray Michael. He eventually returned to Jaafar after watching videos of him singing on YouTube.
When they met for lunch, King repeatedly asked Jaafar whether he was auditioning for the role. Jaafar initially insisted that he did not want to become an actor.
“Jaafar and I met over lunch, and I kept asking him if he was auditioning, because you could feel Michael’s spirit coming through him,” King recalled.
Jaafar eventually agreed to pursue the role, although the journey was not without its challenges.
King revealed that, after approximately a month of rehearsals, the choreographers contacted him with concerns about whether Jaafar would be able to reach the level required for the performance. King was disappointed, but Jaafar asked him to give him more time.
One evening, Jaafar called King and invited him to watch him perform.
“He had transformed himself on his own,” King said. “It was incredible.”
For Antoine Fuqua, the moment of realisation came during Jaafar’s screen tests. The director admitted that he initially wondered whether Jaafar could act, having never acted professionally before.
“Graham put together some screen tests, and Jaafar walked out — and it was Michael. It was eerie. The whole crew stopped what they were doing. … It was Michael. It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen,” Fuqua said.
Jaafar also recalled the excitement of his first day on set, when he performed the “Bad” sequence. After months of preparation, he was finally able to demonstrate his work in front of the cameras and the entire crew.
He explained that only choreographers Rich and Tone had witnessed his rehearsals, making that first performance a particularly emotional moment.
“I had so much built-up energy that I kept saying to myself, ‘I can’t wait to put this on camera. I can’t wait to finally show Antoine, Graham, and the crew my performance,’” Jaafar said.
“It felt as if everything had been kept private for so long. Finally getting to let go and perform in front of the crew and the cameras was an experience of a lifetime.”
Nia Long and Colman Domingo on the Jackson family
Nia Long, who portrays Katherine Jackson, explained that she wanted to join the film because she saw it as more than a celebration of Michael’s music.
“It’s a celebration of his music, but also as a celebration of humanity and of the way his music brought so many people together,” she said.
Long praised Katherine’s grace, selflessness and devotion to her family, highlighting the determination required for the Jackson family to pursue excellence at a time when Black Americans faced significant barriers.
Colman Domingo, who plays Joseph Jackson, spoke about the research he undertook to understand the man behind the public image.
Domingo acknowledged that he had initially known Joe through the controversial aspects of his life, but his research led him to consider the perspective of a working-class father raising a large family with extraordinary musical talent.
“The world has villainized Joe Jackson again and again, but there would be no Michael Jackson and no Jackson family legacy without Katherine and Joe,” Domingo said.
He added: “Joe wasn’t simply a villain. He was a man who believed in his family and was trying to protect it in the only ways he knew.”
His comments offered insight into how he approached the role and sought to portray a more complex character.
Filming at Hayvenhurst and recreating Michael’s history
The conversation also touched on the production’s efforts to recreate important moments in Michael’s life as authentically as possible.
The film was shot at Hayvenhurst, the Jackson family home in Encino, as well as on the Los Angeles streets associated with Michael’s “Thriller” short film.
King described obtaining permission to film at Hayvenhurst as an extraordinary opportunity.
“The scene between Joe and Katherine in their bedroom, with the giraffe by the window, had a special energy,” he said. “To be in that house every day and have the right to use it helped everyone.”
Jaafar also reflected on recreating the Motown performance at the Pasadena Civic Center. Although he found the experience daunting, being in the actual location helped him connect with the atmosphere of the performance he was recreating.
He also spoke about filming “Thriller”, admitting that he would have liked more time to work on the choreography. Nevertheless, he enjoyed seeing the zombies on set and meeting some of the original makeup artists who visited during filming.
“It was a truly memorable evening,” Jaafar said.
The Q&A offered a glimpse into the work, preparation and dedication behind Michael, with the cast and filmmakers reflecting on the challenges of bringing the Jackson family’s story to the screen.
For Jaafar, the journey required months of preparation before he could finally step in front of the cameras. For King and Fuqua, seeing that preparation come to life helped confirm that they had found the right person to portray Michael Jackson.
