Nia Long will play Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael Jackson, in director Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming biographical drama.
It’s been previously announced that Michael’s nephew Jaafar Jackson will play Michael while Colman Domingo will portray the family’s patriarch, Joe Jackson.
“Nia has delivered iconic performances throughout her career,” Fuqua said in a statement. “I’ve been a fan for a long time because her characters stay with you. I’m excited to now work alongside her as she pours all of that into Katherine Jackson: a woman who was the glue, the rock, and the heart of the Jackson family during its best and its most turbulent times.”
“Katherine Jackson is an incredible pillar of strength and grace for the entire Jackson family,” Long said. “As a mother, she was selfless and endured forces beyond her control yet still managed to help build a legacy beyond measure.”
“Beyond Nia’s incredible talent, I was deeply moved by her connection to the material and her commitment to honoring Katherine and the love she had for her son,” King said in a statement.
Long recently starred in Netflix’s comedy “You People” and is best known for movies such as “Boyz n the Hood,” “Love Jones, Soul Food,” “The Best Man” and “Big Momma’s House.” On the TV front, she had memorable roles on the sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and the crime drama “Third Watch.”
Long is represented by Verve Talent and Literary Agency, Narrative, and Meyer & Downs.
It seems that the Estate is doing a “Thriller40” tracklist trick on us and revealing one actor’s name for the biopic every week. The names are only sent to the media directly.
So next name reveal will be next Thursday.
