Michael did more than bring one of the most recognizable figures in music history back to the big screen. It placed Michael Jackson’s extraordinary rise, complicated legacy, and unmistakable artistry under a new spotlight, while introducing audiences to Jaafar Jackson in a performance that quickly became one of the film’s biggest talking points.

Now, with the first chapter on him and the story moving toward the years that transformed Michael Jackson’s public image forever, Jaafar Jackson has offered his clearest indication yet of what he hopes the next film can explore.

Jaafar Jackson tells GQ Middle East that the second Michael movie will offer greater insight into the criticism and child s***** abuse allegations Michael Jackson faced during the 1990s, while emphasizing that he wants the sequel to explore his uncle’s perspective on those events. The first film ends with the 1987 release of Bad, before the first public allegations against Michael Jackson emerged in 1993.

“It’s someone else’s story...It’s someone else’s idea of what it is, and it’s mainly driven by an agenda. And that’s really the issue we’ve been having as a family – not having Michael’s voice being heard. I think that’s very, very important, especially in the late years,” Jaafar said.

Speaking to GQ Middle East, Jaafar acknowledged that he does not have much control over what ultimately makes it into the screenplay. But he believes the second film provides an opportunity to examine the later years of Michael Jackson’s life in greater depth.

That makes Michael 2 a fundamentally different proposition from its predecessor. Rather than chronicling Michael Jackson's journey toward becoming a global icon, the sequel is positioned to enter the period when his fame became increasingly inseparable from controversy, scrutiny, and the public battles that followed him for the rest of his life. Jaafar Jackson also hopes the film preserves the humanity he believes remained at the center of Michael Jackson despite everything surrounding him.

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That belief in the man behind the icon has also shaped Jaafar Jackson’s transformation, as playing his uncle has turned him into one of the year’s breakout performers.

The timing makes the sequel particularly significant for Jaafar Jackson himself. Michael became a remarkable commercial success, crossing $1 billion globally and becoming the highest-grossing biopic of all time. But the film’s success has also transformed Jaafar Jackson from someone who had largely stayed outside the spotlight into one of its newest faces.

His performance was built on an unusually intensive process of preparation, including studying archival footage and working with people who had known and collaborated with Michael Jackson.

Crucially, Jaafar Jackson approached his uncle almost like a stranger while preparing for the role, allowing himself to study Michael Jackson rather than simply imitate someone he already knew personally. That dedication has clearly changed what he wants from acting. Jaafar Jackson says he is interested in roles that demand the same kind of transformation, pointing to performers such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Joaquin Phoenix as inspirations.

With Michael 2 now moving toward the later and far more complicated chapters of Michael Jackson’s life, Jaafar Jackson faces an even greater challenge: following a performance that has already made him one of the most talked-about new actors of the year.

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Do you think the sequel can deepen our understanding of the man behind the icon without losing sight of the controversies that shaped his legacy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!