As Jaafar Jackson stepped into character for the new biopic “Michael,” in which he plays his late uncle Michael Jackson, the 29-year-old looked for any inspiration he could find to embody the music legend as accurately and authentically as he could.
One of the tools Jaafar found most helpful was a collection of his uncle’s private journals, he revealed on an episode of “The Jennifer Hudson Show” airing nationwide on April 22, 2026. Michael, who died at age 50 in 2009, had been so private that his writings gave Jaafar new insight into what the “Thriller” singer cared about most from day to day.
Jaafar Jackson Says Reading Michael Jackson’s Notes Helped Him Understand His Superstar Uncle’s Feelings
In advance of the April 24 release of “Michael,” Hudson sat down with Jaafar and fellow cast members Coleman Domingo, who plays Joe Jackson (Michael’s dad and Jaafar’s real-life grandpa), as well as Juliano Valdi, who plays a young Michael.
When Hudson asked Jaafar whether anything helped him prepare or surprised him as he took on embodying his uncle in the movie, Jaafar told her, “Most importantly, I was given a lot of notes — private notes — of Michael’s. Like, his journaling.”
“And that really opened up my mind to really feel how he was feeling in a lot of those moments,” Jaafar continued, “and just see the mantras he would create for himself and really even meditate on some of those to achieve something or to channel, to write songs.”
Jaafar then said, “And it really opened my mind to how he was so deeply sensitive to everything going on around the world, to people that were in need, and how to channel that through his music and bring people together. That really surprised me. That was one of the things.”
Michael Jackson’s Family Didn’t Know Jaafar Had Landed Biopic Role for a Year
GettyAlthough fans might think Jaafar could have just leaned on the Jackson family for insights into Michael, the truth is that they didn’t know he was playing the superstar for a full year after he landed the role. He told Interview in early April that even his parents — Michael’s brother, Jermaine Jackson, and his ex-wife Alejandra — didn’t know for a long time.
Jaafar said of his mom, “She came to set one time, but she wasn’t aware of what to expect. Even in the process of preparing for it, I didn’t tell her for a full year.”
“No one in my family knew for a full year,” he continued. “I kept it pretty quiet until I felt comfortable enough to share it. But when my mom saw it on-screen, it blew her away. It was hard for her to connect it to me, so it was very emotional for her.”
Domingo told Hudson on her show that he feels “very proud” of Jaafar and Juliano as the movie opens, recalling, “I met both of them … when I was just showing up for a hair and makeup test and Antoine said, ‘Go out and meet your sons.’ They were performing one of the numbers and, literally, the moment I went out there, I felt very protective. Because I saw such a high level of talent, I think, and heart. And I still feel that way.”
“Michael” opens at theaters nationwide on April 24. Check your local listing to see the full interview with Jaafar, Juliano and Domingo on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” airing April 22.
