Michael Jackson's Real-Life Mother's Reaction To Michael Biopic Revealed By Producer

Michael producer Graham King just revealed what Michael Jackson's mother Katherine really thinks of her son's new music biopic amid negative reactions from critics and certain members of the family.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley, King explained that he visited Katherine Jackson at her house and showed her what Jafaar Jackson (the King of Pop's real-life nephew, who's playing the singer in the film) looked like in hair and makeup.

"She was so moved," revealed the producer, who added that the 95-year-old woman told him, "That's Michael." King found it "incredible to think that we've achieved that to his own mother."

"It was incredible. It was one of the highlights of my career, when I went over to Katherine's house and showed her Jafaar in hair and makeup, and she was so moved. And she was in a wheelchair, and I bent down, and she just said, 'That's Michael.' It was so touching. Incredible to think that we've achieved that to his own mother. And then obviously thinking that this kid might be able to act here and there and bring a performance and do a dance move."

Michael is Jafaar Jackson's feature film debut, but he's already been in the entertainment industry after starring on the reality shows Living with the Jacksons and The Jacksons: Next Generation. He has also released two singles.

While Jafaar plays the singer as an adult, Juliano Krue Valdi plays a younger version when Michael Jackson was part of his family band The Jackson 5. When King showed Katherine images of Valdi, she had a very similar reaction to seeing Jafaar.

The child actor's experience is mainly in guest appearances on shows like 9-1-1, The Loud House and The Hug Machine. He also has a following on social media, where he shows off his dance moves, including performing to Michael Jackson's music.

King described Valdi as having "so much energy," to the point where "you just want to take the key out sometimes," which was very similar to how Jackson was at that age, so the casting choice made perfect sense.

During the audition process, Valdi walked in and "blew us away," according to King, who added that the young actor knew Jackson's catalog from Bad onward, so the filmmakers want to make sure he learned the Motown era of music and dance moves, since that's the time period he would be embodying.

"Very similar. I mean, this guy [Juliano Krue Valdi], he's the energy. He comes into a room, and you just want to take the key out sometimes. He's got so much energy. But little Michael was, from what I heard in all the research, Michael was the same at that age. So it kind of really connected, and he came in and just blew us away in that audition. I remembered it was like done, done, done and done. We would talk about how, because he knew Michael's catalog from like Bad era on. I was like, 'Well, now you've got to learn the Motown catalog and how to move to that.'"

Michael centers on the first half of the singer's life, particularly his time with The Jackson 5, who released hits like "I'll Be There" and "I Want You Back," and the early years of Jackson's solo career, up to the height of his popularity in the '80s.

Other songs featured in the film include "Beat It," "Thriller," Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'."

Jafaar Jackson and Valdi's co-stars are Colman Domingo, Nia Long (who plays Katherine), Miles Teller, Jamal R. Henderson, Tre Horton, Rhyan Hill, Joseph David-Jones, Jessica Sula, Kendrick Sampson and Larenz Tate.

With just days to go until its theatrical release, the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic has been the focus of much scrutiny, particularly from critics, who have given the film a 36% score on Rotten Tomatoes, though ScreenRant's review of Michael praised the film.

Not every member of the family is happy with this project being made. Jackson's daughter, Paris Jackson, has been very vocal about Michael, which she claims is inaccurate and full of lies. When Domingo publicly claimed that Paris supported the movie, she refuted his assertion and revealed that she had no involvement.

Paris may be dissatisfied with Michael, but Katherine Jackson has nothing but praise for the two actors playing her son on the big screen.

Michael will be released in theaters on Friday, April 24, 2026.