The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is getting a biopic with the former singer’s nephew Jaafar Jackson starring as his uncle. The Lionsgate biopic film will be directed by Antoine Fuqua and star Jackson’s nephew. The singer and songwriter is the son of Jermaine Jackson, a member of the Jackson 5, and the brother of Michael. Just like his uncle and father, Jaafar has been singing and dancing since he was 12.
Fuqua signed to direct the film with the help of John Logan, who wrote the script. The film is being produced by Graham King, who turned Freddie Mercury’s Queen story into the blockbuster Bohemian Rhapsody. GK Films will co-produce with John Branca and John McClane, co-executors of Jackson’s estate.
King and Oscar-nominated, Gladiator screenwriter Logan previously worked with director Martin Scorsese on The Aviator. King and screenwriter Anthony McCarten also captured the complexities of Freddie Mercury’s lifestyle before he died from AIDS, depicted in the film Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed over $900 million worldwide. The film was boosted by the track catalog of Queen and was given a Best Picture Oscar nom and a win for super mega-celebrity Rami Malek.
Fuqua is finishing directing the film The Equalizer 3, starring Denzel Washington, in Italy, and he will then focus on Jackson’s biopic. It is rumored that production on the film will begin later this year and that Fuqua will bring his cinematographer Robert Richardson to help with the film. Richardson has worked with Fuqua on Emancipation and The Equalizer 3.
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