The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic has cast the Jackson 5.
Lionsgate and Universal Pictures have announced that eight actors will portray members of the ‘ABC’ hitmakers – Jermaine, Marlon, Tito and Jackie – at various stages of their lives in ‘Michael’, which is slated for release in April 2025.
Jamal R. Henderson and Jayden Harville will star as the older and younger versions of Jermaine, Tre Horton and Jaylen Lyndon Hunger are to portray Marlon, Rhyan Hill and Judah Edwards are playing Tito and Joseph David-Jones and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre will star as Jackie.
‘Michael’ is being directed by Antoine Fuqua and will star the late King of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role as well as Juliano Krue Valdi as a young version of the ‘Beat It’ singer.
The biopic’s producer Graham King said: “The truly epic nature of this film required a total of 10 actors with the talent to portray the Jackson 5 through the years.
“I’m thrilled to bring this extraordinary group of actors and performers to worldwide audiences in this film.”
Other cast members include Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine as well as Miles Teller as the star’s attorney John Branca.
Antoine has insisted that the picture will contain “the good, bad and the ugly” of Jackson’s life and career – which saw him rise from child stardom with the Jackson 5 to become the biggest pop star in the world before his tragic death aged 50 in 2009.
Quizzed on his approach to the flick, the ‘Training Day’ director told Entertainment Weekly: “Just to tell the facts as we know it, about the artist, about the man, about the human being. You know, the good, bad, and the ugly.”