Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar was pictured on Thursday recreating his late uncle’s zombie look in the iconic 1983 Thriller video, for an upcoming biopic about the King of Pop.
Jaafar, 27, wore Michael Jackson’s trademark red leather suit as he was spotted on set in Los Angeles working on the film, titled Michael.
The Los Angeles native was made to resemble Jackson’s zombified look in the famous video, which was a mainstay in the burgeoning MTV era.
Jaafar, who is the son of Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, was surrounded by a group of backup dancers as well as dressed as the undead during the shoot.
Jaafar has been busy in recent months with film production, as he filmed scenes for the biopic earlier this month in downtown Los Angeles; and in Encino, California in March.
Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar, 27, was pictured Thursday in LA recreating his late uncle’s zombie look in the iconic 1983 Thriller video, for an upcoming biopic about the King of Pop.
Jaafar has been pictured working on a film set in LA on May 25, without looking like a zombie
The trailer for the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, premiered to strong reactions at CinemaCon in Las Vegas last month, Variety reported.
The preview is part of the studio’s Lionsgate show for movie theater owners, ahead of its April 18, 2025 premiere date.
The preview also focuses on the great attention paid to the superstar by fans and paparazzi.
In the preview, the voice of Katherine Jackson’s mother is heard telling her son, ‘Maybe some people think you’re different and they’re going to make life harder for you.
‘But you are never the same as others – Michael, you have a very special light – let that light shine into the world.’
A voice attributed to Michael Jackson heard saying, ‘When I’m not onstage everything feels alien to me.’
Ahead of the cinematic screening, the film’s producer Graham King said the film would be ‘one of the most prolific artists who ever lived’ because ‘there are elements of drama, intrigue and emotional states.’
King says he has been working on this film for seven years and conducted hundreds of interviews to get the best insight for his upcoming project.
‘There are biopics – and there is Michael Jackson,’ King told a crowd at a film industry convention.
Jaafar was surrounded by a group of backup dancers who also dressed as undead during filming
Jaafar has been busy with film productions in various locations in Southern California this year
The Los Angeles native was made to resemble Jackson’s zombie look in the famous video, which was a mainstay in the burgeoning MTV era.
Jafaar imitated Michael’s dancing aspect in the music video of the record album
Michael Jackson’s video for the title track Thriller remains one of the best and most recognized in history.
Thriller was the first music video to be entered into the National Film Registry following Jackson’s death in 2009
The film is expected to cover all aspects of Jackson’s life and career, including legal issues.
Among them was a 1993 lawsuit that accused him of sexually assaulting a child, which was eventually settled.
He also faced trial in Santa Barbara, California in 2005 in connection with a separate charge of child sexual abuse, from which he was acquitted.
King said the film will ‘put it all in,’ adding that ‘behind the unrelenting scrutiny and accusations and attention, which are just people – people with very complicated lives.’
King said people told him that it would be a challenge to find an actor to fill the role, which he thought Jaafar had done splendidly.
‘When I started out, everyone said, “You won’t find someone to play him,” said King.
The film also stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long in the roles of Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine Jackson. The cast includes Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate and Jessica Sula.
Michael Jackson’s video for the title track Thriller remains one of the most memorable and recognized in history, as it was the first music video to be placed on the National Film Registry after Jackson’s death in 2009.
Jafaar was at the center of the proceedings when he led a group dance on set
The camera rolls in the sequence, which surely marks a critical scene in the film
The trailer for the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, premiered to strong reactions at CinemaCon in Las Vegas last month.
The preview is part of the studio’s Lionsgate show for movie theater owners, ahead of its April 18, 2025 premiere date.
The film is expected to cover all aspects of Jackson’s life and career, including legal issues
A production crew is seen assembled in LA on the set of the film
Producer Graham King said people told him he would be challenged to find an actor to fill the role, which he felt Jaafar had done well.
‘When I started out, everyone said, “You won’t find someone to play him,” said King
The film also stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long in the roles of Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine Jackson
The cast includes Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate and Jessica Sula.
The real Michael Jackson is flanked by a group of zombies in this image from the set of his 1983 music video.
The video was directed by John Landis and debuted on MTV on December 2, 1983; It’s part of a 14-minute short film featuring Michael Jackson as a zombie, flanked by undead dancers.
The iconic video, directed by John Landis, debuted on MTV on December 2, 1983, as part of a 14-minute short film featuring Jackson as a zombie, flanked by undead dancers.
Michael Jackson’s greatest success will come with the release of the album Thriller on November 29, 1982, which remains the best-selling album, according to Guinness World Records in 2021, with more than 67 million copies sold.
The record, which won eight Grammys on 12 nominations, became the best-selling album for 37 weeks and remained on the charts for 80 weeks, a milestone in the history of the 1980s.
The record had seven Top 10 hits, marked by the timeless thriller staples Beat It and Billie Jean, as well as the hits Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, PYT (Pretty Young Thing) and Human Nature.
