HOLLYWOOD — The long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” opens in cinemas Friday, starring Jaafar Jackson — the son of Jermaine Jackson, the nephew of the film’s subject — in the lead role, prompting film industry observers to wonder aloud why Hollywood spent decades casting unrelated actors in biographical films when relatives were presumably available the entire time.
The casting, announced two years ago to a mixture of enthusiasm and pointed questions about the ethics of family members profiting from a family member’s legacy, has been defended by producers as “the most authentic choice available,” given that Jaafar shares not only a last name with his uncle but also, by several accounts, a striking physical resemblance and, apparently, the vocal range.
“When you watch Jaafar, you see Michael. Which is either a testament to genetics, exceptional acting, or the fact that we spent six months training him to do the moonwalk.” — unnamed studio executive, speaking at a press junket while consuming a complimentary cheese plate
The film’s US premiere was held Monday at a red carpet event in Los Angeles, where family members attended in force. La Toya Jackson appeared in an exclusive interview to describe the film as “emotional,” “powerful,” and “a lot,” all of which are technically reviews.
The biopic arrives amid a broader Hollywood trend of increasingly literal casting choices. Industry analysts note that following “Michael,” studios are reportedly in early development on a film about a famous chef to be directed by the chef’s cousin, a documentary about a racing driver to be narrated by the driver’s brother-in-law, and a stage musical about a famous architect in which the lead role will be played by the architect’s structural engineer.
“We’re entering the age of adjacent casting. It’s not nepotism, it’s heritage-informed talent selection. Those are completely different things that sound exactly the same.” — Dr. Vivienne Starfield, Professor of Film Studies, USC, who has tenure and therefore can say this
In other entertainment news, American Idol’s 2026 season is down to its top seven contestants following Monday’s Disney-themed live show, during which two competing singers revealed they are dating each other — a development producers described as “completely organic” with a smile that lasted slightly too long.
Justin Timberlake was also in the news this week for publicly praising Justin Bieber’s headlining Coachella set, in what analysts are calling “a statement that required careful drafting” and which Timberlake’s publicist confirmed went through fourteen revisions.
Meanwhile, Eminem marked 18 years of sobriety, a milestone his fans celebrated by posting supportive messages, and his record label celebrated by rereleasing three albums.
Globe News Daily editorial note: We have purchased tickets to see “Michael.” We will review it once we finish processing the trailer, which has been playing on loop in our heads since Tuesday.
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