Despite having no previous acting experience before landing the lead role in “Michael,” Jaafar Jackson has made cinematic history with his debut performance.
The biopic has grossed more than $1.001 billion worldwide at the box office, making Jaafar the first debutant to headline a film to cross the billion-dollar mark.
Following the film’s massive success, a second installment has been confirmed. However, it remains unclear which chapter of Michael Jackson’s life the sequel will explore.
Jaafar Jackson’s performance as his late uncle, Michael Jackson, in “Michael” has now reached a record-breaking box-office milestone.
Following its theatrical debut in April, the biopic opened to a strong $97 million domestically and $217 million worldwide during its first week. At the time, the figures set a new opening-week record for a music biopic.
The film has now surpassed the $1 billion mark, taking its global box office total to $1.001 billion, per Variety. The achievement makes Jaafar the first leading actor in history to debut in a billion-dollar film.
“Michael” also became the first biopic to join the billion-dollar club while overtaking “Bohemian Rhapsody” as the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time.
International markets contributed an impressive $629.8 million to the film’s worldwide earnings, with the remaining revenue coming from North America.
‘Michael’ Director Reacts To Film’s Billion-Dollar Success
Director Antoine Fuqua was particularly pleased by the milestone and expressed his excitement in a statement.
“Reaching this extraordinary $1 billion milestone with ‘Michael’ is a deeply humbling moment that celebrates the tireless dedication of our incredible producers, cast, crew, and partners,” Fuqua stated. “This achievement belongs to everyone who came together with a shared vision to honor one of the greatest artists the world has ever known.”
Fuqua also thanked the fans who made the milestone possible by turning out at cinemas across the world over the past few months.
“This historic milestone is a testament to the enduring power of cinema to bring us together, and it is a chapter in movie history I will never forget,” he also noted.
Jaafar Jackson Recalls His ‘Surreal’ Transformation Into Michael
During an April appearance on “The Tonight Show,” Jaafar opened up about the lengthy journey that led to him landing the lead role in “Michael.”
The actor revealed that he first learned about the biopic through an online article announcing that producer Graham King had secured the rights to tell the King of Pop’s story.
At the time, Jaafar never imagined that he would play his late uncle. However, months later, King contacted him for a Zoom meeting, which eventually led to months of acting lessons, screen tests, and coaching despite Jaafar having no previous acting experience.
The audition process lasted nearly two years before he was officially cast. Jaafar also said the emotional experience of seeing himself transformed into his uncle through hair, makeup, and prosthetics was “surreal” and “deeply spiritual.”
Jaafar Had 20 Days To Master Michael’s Dance Moves
During the interview, Jaafar also reflected on the demanding process of recreating some of the “Thriller” singer’s most iconic performances.
He revealed that filming began with the concert scenes, meaning he was thrown straight into the deep end on his very first day on set.
To prepare, he worked closely with renowned choreographers Rich and Tone, who had previously choreographed for his uncle during his uncle’s tour. Together, they meticulously studied the singer’s legendary Motown 25 performance of “Billie Jean,” breaking it down frame by frame.
Jaafar said he was given just 20 days to prove that he could master the routine well enough to convince the filmmakers that he was right for the role.
Although he initially doubted himself and found the challenge overwhelming, Jaafar said the months of practice ultimately paid off, with the finished performance bearing little resemblance to his early rehearsals.
Jaafar Jackson’s Record-Breaking Debut Is Getting A Sequel
In the closing scenes of “Michael,” producers hinted at plans for a sequel with the message, “His Story Continues.”
The possibility of a follow-up became more apparent when Deadline reported that Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson had expressed excitement about the progress on a second installment.
However, it remains unclear which direction the sequel will take. According to Fogelson, they “can go forward and backward in telling this story as there are so many other events that happened that weren’t touched upon.”
“So, we’re very, very confident that we’ve got an incredibly entertaining movie that will appeal once again to a global audience as the pieces come together,” Fogelson added.
