Jaafar Jackson — and what comes next

Witness Jaafar Jackson embody his uncle’s legend in Michael, a biopic shattering box office records while bridging generations. Jaafar Jackson has emerged this Saturday as one of the stories drawing attention in Bangladesh.

Key facts

• Witness Jaafar Jackson embody his uncle’s legend in Michael, a biopic shattering box office records while bridging generations.
• Antoine Fuqua notched the best opening of his career at the box office this weekend as his Michael Jackson biopic Michael, from Lionsgate and Universal, debuted to $97 million in the U.S. and $217.4M worldwide.
• The theatre was packed, louder than usual and somewhere in the crowd, I spotted a few people dressed like Michael Jackson.
• Jaafar Jackson, MJ’s own nephew, plays him in his first movie and pulls off the role surprisingly well.
• Michael' director Antoine Fuqua talks about the challenges in making the Michael Jackson biopic, the reshoots and an upcoming sequel.

What we know

Going deeper, Antoine Fuqua notched the best opening of his career at the box office this weekend as his Michael Jackson biopic Michael, from Lionsgate and Universal, debuted to $97 million in the U.S. and $217.4M worldwide.

On the substance, the theatre was packed, louder than usual and somewhere in the crowd, I spotted a few people dressed like Michael Jackson.

Beyond the headlines, Jaafar Jackson, MJ’s own nephew, plays him in his first movie and pulls off the role surprisingly well.

More precisely, Michael' director Antoine Fuqua talks about the challenges in making the Michael Jackson biopic, the reshoots and an upcoming sequel.

It is worth noting that ‘Michael’ Review: Jaafar Jackson Dazzles As His King Of Pop Uncle In A Feel-Good Biopic MJ Fans Will Eat Up.

By the numbers

At this stage, Bob Richardson, the DP, we were working on Equalizer 3 together, and he showed me a photo of Michael Jackson and him on the set.

On a related note, For most of us in our early 20s, he has always existed more as a legend than a memory.

Going deeper, I’ve always pictured the 90s through elders’ stories.

On the substance, my cousin Faisal Ibrahim, who was a school kid back then, remembered, “Everyone tried his moonwalk, even my elder brother.” The 45-degree lean was practiced at home after first discovering it.

The wider context

On a related note, when Jaafar performed BAD on screen..it was shocking to believe it was not Michael Jackson.

Going deeper, this cinematic event explores the unmatched stardom, iconic moonwalk, and complex childhood of the immortal King of Pop.

On the substance, I caught the second show of ‘Michael’ and the atmosphere in the hall was less like a cinema and more like an event.

Beyond the headlines, it was a strange mix; those who had grown up hearing his name, and those who had actually lived through his era, sitting in the same room, waiting for the same story.

More precisely, a generation that never lived through Michael Jackson at his peak is now filling theatres, not out of obligation, but out of curiosity.

The bottom line

• The theatre was packed, louder than usual and somewhere in the crowd, I spotted a few people dressed like Michael Jackson.
• When Jaafar performed BAD on screen..it was shocking to believe it was not Michael Jackson.
• This cinematic event explores the unmatched stardom, iconic moonwalk, and complex childhood of the immortal King of Pop.