Michael Jackson's Nephew Reportedly Taking The Brunt Of Biopic Release Delay

The highly anticipated movie about Michael Jackson's life has become more than many expected, especially for the late singer's nephew, Jaafar Jackson.

The biopic has faced multiple hiccups since its announcement, including the postponement of its April release date. The delay has reportedly taken a toll on Jaafar, who portrays the late King of Pop in the movie.

The project not only serves as a testament to Michael Jackson's illustrious life and career but also Jaafar Jackson's debut as an actor. Sources claimed the rising star is overwhelmed with the continued production and reshoots, but remains committed to portraying his late uncle to the best of his abilities.

An insider shed light on the tension caused by the delay of Michael's biopic, stressing that no one felt the pain more than Jaafar. They noted they felt sorry for the young actor because he "put himself through hell to master his late uncle's performance style, dance moves, and general manner."

"He's had to maintain that peak conditioning and extremely low body fat for more than two years, starting with the early stages of the project and continuing through to the reshoots they've been doing this spring," the source added about Jaafar's strict preparations to embody his late uncle.

They also noted Jaafar feared how the controversies surrounding Michael would affect the movie's final cut, referencing the persistent claims of alleged abuse victims.

These molestation allegations led to the "Thriller" singer's unforgettable trial in 2005, where he was acquitted on all counts of wrongdoings, per In Touch.

The insider claimed Jaafar found the situation "frustrating" because he had no power over the rest of the movie, excluding his own performance.

They stressed the actor was concerned about how the Jackson family and producers might fail to find the perfect balance in covering Michael's life, career, and abuse allegations.

"Getting that balance just right, within the story and the final cut of the movie, is why they had to delay the release and why they have gone back to reshoot and adjust things," the source explained.

They suspected the Jackson estate might try to push for Michael's innocence and use the biopic to clear any misconceptions about the molestation scandal. Nonetheless, the insider believed the movie's outcome would not negatively impact Jaafar.

They stressed that he had been a "team player" since day one and relentlessly pushed himself beyond the limits to portray his late uncle. Therefore, whether Michael's biopic becomes a success or a flop, his nephew has cemented himself as a good actor.

Michael's nephew was born from the union between his brother Jermaine Jackson and his ex-wife Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza. The former couple tied the knot in 1995 and ended their marriage in 2003, seven years after welcoming Jaafar in July 1996.

Like most Jackson family members, Jaafar was born with the gift of music and has reportedly been singing and dancing since he was 12. He repeatedly flaunted his talents on social media, covering A-list singers like Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye.

Jaafar released his first single, "Got Me Singing," in 2019 and accompanied the song with a music video. He received the blessing of the Jackson family, including Michael's mother Katherine, before embarking on the journey to portray his late uncle, perPEOPLE.

Days before reports of Jaafar's stress were unveiled, The Blast covered Janet Jackson's sweet gesture towards her late brother. The singer, best known as the youngest of the Jackson siblings, allegedly honored Michael by halting all discussions about a possible biopic.

According to a source, Janet received lucrative offers to showcase her life and career in a musical biopic or a TV documentary. However, she refused to partake in such projects until the King of Pop's movie was released. The insider claimed she did so to avoid stealing her late brother's spotlight.

Additionally, Janet wished to allow her family, especially her nephew Jaafar enjoy the attention the biopic would create before embarking on her own journey.

Another reason stemmed from the singer's desire to see if the movie would be a success or a flop to judge fans' possible reactions to the portrayal of her legacy.

The highly anticipated movie "Michael" reportedly explores the life and tragic end of the moonwalking singer. Antoine Fuqua directs the project and features stars like Nia Long, Colman Domingo, Kat Graham, Miles Teller, and more.

The biopic's synopsis revealed that the project detailed numerous important events from Michael's life and career, including his childhood and days of being the star of the Jackson 5 band.

The movie would also showcase the alleged abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, Joe Jackson, to the creation of his hit songs and his heartbreaking demise on June 25, 2009.

A source claimed the entire Jackson family came together to ensure Michael's story was done justice without getting buried by controversy or gossip.

Given the number of narratives that needed to be covered, reports claimed the biopic might be split into two movies. They noted this potential separation sparked the need for reshoots and script revisions.

Will the production hiccups affect the success of Michael Jackson's biopic?