Michael stars Jaafar Jackson and Juliano Valdi talk about working together to bring both halves of superstar Michael Jackson’s life to film.
Jackson, who is Michael Jackson’s nephew, said that he and Valdi would be in opposite stages, either rehearsing or performing the different parts of Michael’s life.
“The times I saw Juliano were really in the rehearsal process. He’d be in one stage, I’d be in one stage rehearsing on my moves [and] he’d be doing his own thing. But during filming, I didn’t really see him as much,” he said. “I only came to set one time to see [Valdi] do a performance, and I was very blown away. But I didn’t get to see any of the dramatic scenes. When I saw it on film for the first time, I was honestly blown away. I heard great things about him and what he was doing, but to see it with my own eyes was something completely different.”
“It was truly incredible what he was able to do, and also being his first time [on film] as well,” he continued. “And there were a few times where we’d cross paths and he’d show me some moves he was learning that day, or he’d be getting some snacks and I’d be doing the same. So we had some of those fun interactions.”
Behind-the-scenes moments between Jackson and Valdi
Valdi also recounted a photo shoot he and Jackson did.
“That was a time where I really got to talk to Jaafar and have more time than when [we’re] at [craft services], ’cause, you know, it’s fast,” he said. “But when I was at the photo shoot, I asked him what he was doing, how’s it going, you know, what’s happening.”
“That was fun ’cause he was in the Jackson Five look and I was in the ‘Bad’ look,” added Jackson.
“I really didn’t get a lot of time to hang out with Jaafar a lot, but when we did, it was a great time,” said Valdi.
Watch the full interview with the cast of Michael, including Nia Long, Colman Domingo and director Antoine Fuqua, aobve.
Michael comes to theaters on April 24
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