Washington DC [US], February 24 : Filmmaker Antoine Fuqua described making the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic as a "spiritual journey," highlighting the challenge and inspiration of portraying the legendary pop icon, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Set to hit theaters and IMAX on April 24, the Lionsgate film stars Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, marking his feature debut. Lionsgate will distribute the movie domestically, with Universal handling the global release.
"It's a very spiritual journey, making a movie about someone like Michael," Fuqua said in a video released by Lionsgate on Monday. "Michael was a big influence on my career as a director, seeing how he refused to get put in a box as just a Black artist only," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The film also features Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, and Derek Luke in supporting roles. Produced by Graham King, John Branca, and John McClain, the screenplay was written by John Logan.
"Michael's whole life was giving to people this joy of his voice," Fuqua continued. "When I watched him on TV, he was always larger than life. For me as a filmmaker, it wasn't a leap to see it in a cinematic way." He added that understanding Jackson required exploring the tension between his love for family and passion for music, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Initially intended to cover Jackson's full life, the film now concludes with his departure from The Jacksons following the release of his 1979 solo album, Off the Wall. According to sources, a second film remains in development that would focus on the rest of Jackson's career and path prior to his 2009 death, as per the outlet.
Fuqua told The Hollywood Reporter and during a 2024 San Diego Comic-Con panel that Jackson was "a big part of my life growing up, a big influence on my career, an incredible artist, but he was a human being, and we're exploring that."
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