The fandom is getting either exciting or nervous about the upcoming official Michael Jackson Biopic and since the announcement of Jaafar Jackson and Juliano Krue Valdi playing Michael Jackson, internet gone mad!
While we are still waiting for more cast announcements, we can expect a big name, well, it should be a big name on the bill. “Bohemian Rhapsody” has Rami Malek as the main character Freddie Mercury, “Elvis” has Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker. Maybe the role of Katherine or Joe Jackson will see a big Hollywood name, unless John Branca casts someone famous for his own role?
We already talked about the Director Antoine Fuqua (Director), Graham King and John Branca (both Producers) in 2023 but now few more production names have been announced.
Barbara Ling is set to be Production Designer. She won an Academy Award for Best Production Design for her work on “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019) directed by Quentin Tarantino and her latest work could be seen in “A Man Called Otto” (2022) directed by Marc Foster.
As we know, makeup is everything in cinema, the makeup department will be held by Bill Corso. Corso worled on over 70 films since he started in 1986 and best known for “Deadpool” (2016), “Foxcatcher” (2014) and “A Series of Unfortunate Events” (2004).
In the special effects department, we hear that Eric Cook will be the special effects coordinator. Cook has worked on over 50 movies and the list is impressive from “Twister” (1993), “Starship Troopers” (1997) to the most recent “Black Adam” (2022) and “Rebel Moon” (2023). He will be joined by visual effects production Manager Wesley Barker who also worked on “Black Adam” but also get credits for “Shazam” (2019) and “Spy Kids: Armageddon” (2023); and visual effects supervisor Louis Morin who worked on “Beauty and the Beat” (2014), “Arrival” (2016) and “Beau Is Afraid” (2023)
Michael Jackson was all about music and dance, right? So let see who is the music supervisor of this biopic!
John Warhurst is a British sound editor and he won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing for the film “Bohemian Rapsody” so it is no surprise that Graham King called him back for this job. Warhurst hasn’t done much: “Les Miserables” (2012), “One Direction: This Is Us” (20130 and of course “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018).
Now to the dance! Richard and Anthony Talauega are known by the fans for many reasons. The brothers were first seen at the end of the HIStory World Tour as dancers and then on “GHOSTS”. Since, the Michael Jackson Estate trusted them with different projects, the first worked on Cirque du Soleil “Immortal” and have now replaced Travis Payne at Cirque du Soleil “MJ ONE” as main choreographers. They also choreographed the live performance of “Slave To The Rhythm” at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards with an hologram of Michael.
The Estate have also made them part of the creative team for “MJ The Musical” and now they will be the main choreographers for “Michael” the official biopic.
To be honest, and no disrespect to Rich & Tone, they were part of a very small section of Michael’s career during his life time and having only them to teach Jaafar Jackson on how to move like Michael is not so great. I am sure for those who went to see the musical, you saw few weird and un-michaelesque dance moves and steps. But I guess as they are already in the Estate’s payroll, they are now on the Biopic.
As for the costumes, well I can bet the name Michael Bush will pop-in soon as he is also on the Estate’s payroll. But this hasn’t been confirmed yet.
However the costume illustrator has been set to be Louise Burrows. The young woman is specialising in concept art and costume illustration for film, TV and theatre. She has worked for Jude Law “The Nest” (2020), “Gaslit” (2022) and “Andor” (coming out this year). Dennis Tompkins used to do Michael’s costumes illustrations.
A costumer has also been named: Vicente Parada. Vincente is a 39 years old Motion Picture Costumer and Wardrobe Stylist from LA. He worked on many TV shows and movies such as “Desperate Housewives” (2006), “CSI” (2007), “1408” (2007), “True Blood” (2009), “Captain America” (2011), “The Revenant” (2015) and more recently “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022).
Excited or nervous? A bit of both! As a fan, I am excited to see Michael Jackson name on the big screen. But I am also very nervous! The first reason is because we saw in “MJ The Musical” discrepancy in the storyline. Things did not happen at the time the play is set. Some scenes of Michael are somehow a bit mean and not truthful. So yes, I am nervous the Estate will change the real story of Michael Jackson, the man he was. Not to mention the latest Estate projects such as their latest Merchandise endeavour or “Thriller 40” have been an absolute disaster. Will they put all the efforts necessary in this biopic?
So time will tell and for sure I will be in the cinema in 2025 to watch this.
Sebastian for MJVibe.
I’m so excited like a lot of us thousands and thousands of us I’m so grateful for Mrs Jackson who actually needs to take a lot of credit cuz it wasn’t for them this will all would have never happened. And I also like to thank Michael’s Brothers for always being there and we do miss him very very much but he’s never be forgotten none of you will ever be forgotten none of you. I’ve been to the Jackson house in Gary Indiana three times because I live in Michigan and I’m so lucky it’s only an hour and 10 minutes away. I’m very excited about his brother and his nephew doing this movie I can’t wait I can’t wait . April 18th 2025 I’m not sure what the time is yet but I’m thinking maybe 8:00 can’t get here soon enough thank you all for so much for doing this cuz we love it God bless God bless.
I just need to make a small correction on my message it’s supposed to say if it wasn’t for Mr and Mrs Jackson none of this would have ever happened. And I hope she’s doing good I know she’s getting up there but I just seen her on the internet the other day you go girl don’t let nobody take nothing from you God bless all of you
I love Michael Jackson and his family and music!! I am such a Micheal Jackson fan.I can remember the first time I heard that fabulous Music was when I was around five. I am almost Sixty one now and just wanted to say thank you Mrs.Jackson for being such a beautiful teacher of all your children and teaching them.I will always love Michael and All the Jackson family. I read everything about him I can or movie I see.. I was devastated by his passing and I know I will be seeing him one day!! Love to u… Be blessed.Love and Peace.
Very nervous. Everyone has their own “version of the truth” when it comes to michael. I’d like to see J Randy taborelli and/or some of the more credible biographers get involved on a consultant level of some sort. I think the MOST important part of this movie (because we already know it will be huge and epic and beautiful and entertaining and explosive) is that the truth is front and center. Put to rest all the Oprah’s and all the liars and all the people who only think they know what they’ve heard. The trial should have a big spot for the sake of the truth. Because if they DONT highlight the false allegations that will just be another reason for people to say “notice how they kind of skipped over that stuff? Wonder why *wink wink*” Very nervous. But you know they’ll make their buck off me. LOVE
I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. I hope whoever else is brought on board for the biopic is very talented and familiar enough with Michael to do him justice artistically. I’m excited for this movie but also nervous because I feel a lot will hinge on Jaafar’s ability to portray Michael in a believable way. I hope he can do it! Also, I imagine they’re just going to focus on his life up to the Thriller era and avoid difficult topics like his vitiligo and the accusations, but we’ll see.