Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis believe Prince deserves the same big-screen treatment that Michael Jackson just received—and they aren’t shy about saying it.
During a recent appearance on the Big Tigger Morning Show, the legendary production duo was asked whether a Prince biopic on the scale of Michael should happen. Both men answered without hesitation. “Oh, absolutely,” Jimmy Jam said, while Terry Lewis added, “Anything about Prince, I’m all in. I’m all ears. Talk to me about that. Let’s go.”
Jam, who has often spoken about Prince’s influence on his life and career, suggested there is still plenty of unexplored ground when it comes to telling the Purple One’s story.
“There’s a lot more levels to Prince,” he said, calling the idea of a film “literally amazing.”
He acknowledged that casting would be one of the biggest challenges, adding that finding the right actor “would be tough” but “fun to watch.”
The comments came after Jam praised Michael’s biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, as the King of Pop. Jam said he “loved” the film and credited it with helping audiences understand why Jackson made certain decisions throughout his life. He also called Jaafar’s performance “amazing,” saying the filmmakers “nailed” the casting.
For Jam, conversations about Prince and Michael have always been intertwined. Speaking earlier this year, the producer said the two superstars were “competitive,” but “very respectful of each other.” Although their rivalry fueled decades of headlines—and included Prince passing on “We Are the World” and declining a duet on “Bad”—Jam insisted the icons pushed each other creatively rather than simply tearing each other down.
Their approaches to making music were radically different. Prince worked with speed and spontaneity, while Jackson was famously meticulous. Yet Jam has maintained that both men influenced one another, even though they rarely saw eye to eye. The competition between them helped define one of the most important eras in pop music.
That history is part of why Jam and Lewis think Prince’s life deserves the same cinematic spotlight. “We’re not here without that,” Lewis said, referring to Prince’s impact.
