Where in the “Michael” world is Janet Jackson?
The music superstar is nowhere to be seen as a character in the new Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic about her late brother.
“I wish everybody was in the movie,” Jackson sibling LaToya Jackson told me Monday night at the film’s premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. “She was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.”
Michael is portrayed by their nephew Jaafar Jackson with Joe Jackson played by Colman Domingo and Nia Long playing Katherine Jackson. LaToya is portrayed by Jessica Sula. Juliano Valdi takes on the role of younger Michael.
Fuqua said it was “very important” for him to have the Jackson family involved with the movie.
“You’re telling somebody’s life, you want to make sure that they’re happy,” he said.
Not only does Michael’s estate have a financial investment in the project, but his son, Prince Jackson, serves as an executive producer. His other children Bigi and Paris are not involved. Paris has publicly criticized the film for having “a lot of inaccuracies” and “a lot of full blown lies.”
She said in a video posted to social media, “The film panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy. And they’re going to be happy with it.”
As for Janet, Fuqua said, “I have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know it’s OK. She’s supportive of Jaafar and that’s what matters.”
LaToya gushed over Jaafar’s performance.
“Oh my gosh, I have to tell you that Jaafar was absolutely fabulous,” LaToya said. “I’m sure you’ve seen the movie and you know how wonderful he is, how we all forget and think that we’re watching Mike. It’s like, ‘Oh, I forgot this is Jaafar.’”
As Variety’s Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin first reported in early April, the Jackson estate had to pay up to $15 million for reshoots. They had to cut scenes showing Michael being accused of child molestation by Jordan Chandler because Chandler’s settlement with the singer barred the depiction or mention of him in any movie.
“Michael” is in theaters on April 24.
