Actor Jaafar Jackson has revealed that a planned sequel to the Michael Jackson biopic will focus on sexual abuse allegations from the late singer's perspective.
Jackson, who played his uncle in the biographical film Michael, said the upcoming second movie would address the claims from the pop star's own point of view rather than relying solely on accusers.
Speaking in an interview with GQ magazine, the actor described his time performing on stage as Michael as the best experience he could have had as an artist. He added that performing on stage as Jaafar would have felt strange to him.
Perspective on the allegations
With the sequel to Michael currently in development, Jackson indicated that the narrative will explore the controversial allegations facing the pop icon in greater depth. He explained that allegations against public figures are typically presented from the perspective of others, whereas the new film aims to offer insight from Michael Jackson's standpoint.
According to reports from Daily Mail Celebrity, Jackson also addressed criticism that the original biopic sanitized his uncle's life. However, he clarified that the script remains in development and emphasized that he does not have substantial influence over the scope or direction of the storyline.
Family legacy and fame
Jackson, the son of Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine Jackson, also recalled the moment he first understood the massive extent of his family's global fame. He remembered watching the Jackson 5 reunite for their 30th anniversary concert in front of thousands of fans at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Jackson 5, formed in the 1960s by members of the Jackson family, became one of the most successful pop and R&B groups in music history. Reflecting on the anniversary concert at the famous Manhattan venue, Jackson said he still remembers how loud the crowd was and how intensely fans reacted to his uncles on stage, calling it the moment he realized how important his family was to the world.
Biopic criticism and box office success
The original biopic Michael was released in April and faced sharp criticism from several journalists and commentators. Critics argued that the narrative avoided the darker aspects of the singer's life, particularly the allegations of sexual abuse involving young boys that shadowed his later years.
Despite the critical backlash, Michael achieved unprecedented commercial success. The film set a record as the highest grossing biographical film of all time, surpassing the box office earnings of Christopher Nolan's Oscar winning drama Oppenheimer.
