Jaafar Jackson has a famous uncle and dad. He is the son of Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine Jackson. So, perhaps it's not surprising that he looks like his famous uncle, the King of Pop.
But he really looks (and sounds) like his famous uncle, even down to the whispery voice. That much became evident after the release of the first trailer for the 2026 biopic on Michael Jackson, which stars Jaafar.
The trailer recreates many of Michael's iconic looks. "I know you've been waiting a long time for this. The tracks are made. The songs are ready. Let's take it from the top," the narrator says. "This is your story."
The film, called simply "Michael," is being released by Universal Pictures.
Jaafar Jackson has shared his thoughts about taking on the role.
"I’m humbled and honored to bring my Uncle Michael’s story to life. To all the fans all over the world, I’ll see you soon," he wrote on Instagram when the biopic was first announced.
He shared the trailer on November 7, writing simply, "MICHAEL - in theaters April 24, 2026." Despite having 332,000 followers on Instagram, Jaafar's page has only a few posts.
Who is Jaafar Jackson?
According to Variety, he is the second to youngest son of Jermaine Jackson, and it's Jaafar's first film role. His mom is Jermaine's ex-wife Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, People reported, adding that he is a singer and has appeared in a family music video and other projects.
As the Jackson estate is cooperating with the new biopic, it's unclear how deeply it will go into controversial topics like the child sex abuse accusations that shrouded Jackson's final days. But the family's matriarch sees a resemblance between Jaafar and Michael.
“Jaafar embodies my son. It’s so wonderful to see him carry on the Jackson legacy of entertainers and performers,” Michael's and Jermaine's mom, Katherine Jackson, told Variety.
Producer Graham King told Variety that Jaafar was chosen after a major casting search.
“I met Jaafar over two years ago and was blown away by the way he organically personifies the spirit and personality of Michael,” said King to Variety.
“It was something so powerful that even after conducting a worldwide search, it was clear that he is the only person to take on this role. I am beyond thrilled that he has come on board to portray his uncle and cannot wait for the world to see him on the big screen as Michael Jackson.”