Colman Domingo Cast as Michael Jackson’s Father Joe Jackson in Upcoming Biopic

Colman Domingo has joined the cast of the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, as he’s set to portray the King of Pop’s controversial father, Joe Jackson, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

He will be joining the “Billie Jean” singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who was previously announced to portray his late uncle in the upcoming film. Nine-year-old actor Juliano Krue Valdi will portray Michael during his formative years in the Jackson 5.

“Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex and flawed character to portray in Joe Jackson, but I also have a front row seat for Jaafar’s incredible transformation. After seeing him in rehearsal, my mind was blown,” Domingo said in a statement to THR. “There is something divine about the way that Jaafar is channeling his late uncle. His talent and embodiment of Michael’s essence is simply on another level.”

The film will take on the musician’s life and career and will be produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody) and John Branca and John McClain, who are the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate. Titled Michael, the forthcoming biopic will be directed by Antoine Fuqua, the filmmaker behind 2001’s Oscar-winning Training Day and 2022’s Will Smith-starring Emancipation.

Michael died on June 25, 2009 at age 50. In a career that spanned almost his entire life, the King of Pop had 13 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. He first saw success as part of the family band the Jackson 5, and four of their songs topped the Hot 100.

The film is currently slated for release in April 2025.