AceShowbiz - Michael star Jaafar Jackson opened up on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon about the profound experience of seeing himself transformed into his late uncle, the iconic Michael Jackson, during the film’s makeup sessions.

Fallon asked whether Jaafar’s first glimpse in full costume was confusing or surreal, to which the actor described it as a “spiritual moment.” He credited makeup designer Bill Corso, known for his work on Foxcatcher, for creating such a seamless transformation.

Jackson explained that watching himself gradually become Michael was deeply emotional. The process marked a significant milestone as he stepped into the legendary performer’s shoes for the first time. His initial day of shooting was intense, involving a recreation of Michael’s famous “Bad” performance.

“They threw me right in the deep end,” Jaafar recalled, confirming that the first two weeks of filming focused heavily on capturing Michael’s iconic performances. Fallon expressed surprise at the challenge posed so early in production.

As the son of former Jackson 5 member Jermaine Jackson, Jaafar revealed he never intended to become an actor before landing the role. During his initial meeting with producer Graham King, known for Michael and Bohemian Rhapsody, Jaafar admitted he had never acted or aspired to.

“I grew up wanting to play golf,” he said. Despite this, King hired an acting coach to prepare Jaafar for the demanding role. What followed was a rigorous, multi-year process where Jaafar had to prove himself worthy of portraying Michael Jackson.

“It wasn’t a traditional audition,” he explained. “I had to earn the role over about two years, and even before officially getting the part, I was refining every detail once I knew I had it.”

The dedication to authenticity and performance is evident in the film’s footage, with the first clip of Michael already attracting significant attention online as of Friday morning.

This biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua, promises an intimate look at Michael Jackson’s life and career, brought to life by Jaafar Jackson’s heartfelt and transformative portrayal.