Colman Domingo is getting ready to step into the shoes of Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson in the upcoming biopic Michael and he says Paris Jackson has been a huge help along the way.
Speaking with People at the amfAR benefit gala in Venice, Italy, on Aug. 31, the Oscar-nominated actor shared that both Paris, 27, and her brother Prince, 28, have given him valuable insight for the role.
“They’re very much in support of our film,” Domingo said. “Paris has been very helpful to me, and Prince is really a man of the film. It feels special to be here at amfAR tonight with Paris — a nice way for us to be together.”
Domingo, 55, not only stars as Joe Jackson in Michael (with Jaafar Jackson portraying his uncle Michael) but also hosted this year’s amfAR gala, which raised over $3.4 million for HIV/AIDS research. The evening featured Jude Law presenting Julian Schnabel with the Award of Inspiration and performances from Ava Max and Paris Jackson.
What drew Domingo to the film, he explained, was the chance to portray the full scope of the Jackson family legacy.
“The thing that has inspired me the most is this very profound and prominent family called the Jacksons,” he told People. “We would not have any of this music, the big moments we all share, without the Jackson family. And I don’t just mean Michael — I mean the entire family.”
Domingo has previously said he wants audiences to see a complex version of Joe Jackson, who died in 2018. “I want to find their humanity, their heart and humor,” he said. “It may go against public opinion sometimes, but that’s my responsibility.”
Paris Jackson was also at the amfAR benefit gala in Venice.
Michael is currently in post-production.
UPDATE 03/09/2025:
Since Domingo’s comment to People, Paris Jackson took to Instagram to assert she had 0% involvement in the biopic. She noted that, although she read an early draft of the script and may have given feedback, she neither received any official credit nor heard back from the production or the Estate.
This post from Paris Jackson has now sparked arguments and debates in the fan community. Some believe she should have stayed silent to avoid potentially harming the biopic and Michael’s legacy. Others blame the Estate, saying it’s unsurprising that her input was ignored. Ultimately, Paris made her stance clear, she will not allow people to assume she is heavily involved. As fans, we may need to wait until the biopic is released to truly judge it. After all, considering past disappointments such as the Michael album or the underwhelming Thriller 40 rollout, caution is understandable.
