When it was announced that Michael Jackson’s own nephew would play him in a big new movie, plenty of people rolled their eyes. Jaafar Jackson had never acted in a film before. How could a first-timer, even one with the Jackson name, possibly fill the shoes of the most famous entertainer who ever lived?
A lot of the so-called experts were sure it would flop. They were wrong.
The film is simply called Michael, and it arrived in 2026. Audiences showed up in numbers almost nobody predicted. It went on to earn more than a billion dollars around the world, becoming the first movie about a real person’s life ever to reach that mark. For a biopic, that is almost unheard of.
The reviews for the film itself were actually split. Some critics felt it played things a little too safe. But on one point, nearly everyone agreed. The young man playing Michael was something special.
Jaafar did not just put on the costumes and copy a few dance moves. He seemed to disappear into his uncle completely. He nailed the voice, the walk, the small gestures and the way Michael could own a room the second he stepped into it. People who grew up watching the real Michael Jackson said there were moments they forgot they were watching anyone else at all.
See the transformation that silenced the doubters:
Michael – Official Trailer (2026)
Now the same industry that doubted him is talking about awards. The predictors at Gold Derby, who track this kind of thing closely, have completely flipped their early guesses. They now rank Jaafar as a serious contender for a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, and they are watching him for the big screen actor awards and even the Oscars.
Think about how wild that is for a second. This was a man with zero film credits to his name, stepping into the most scrutinized role imaginable, playing an icon millions of people feel they personally knew. That kind of pressure would have buried most actors. Instead, he may be about to walk away with some of the biggest trophies in Hollywood.
There is something fitting about it, too. A Jackson bringing another Jackson back to life on screen, carrying the family name in front of a whole new generation.
Watch more of him in action:
Michael – Final Trailer (2026)
Whether or not he takes home a single trophy this season, one thing is already settled. The doubters have gone quiet, the movie made history, and Jaafar Jackson proved he belonged in the role all along. Press play and see for yourself why Hollywood changed its mind.