Michael, the Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael Jackson biopic starring the late King of Pop’s nephew in the title role, is out next month. Ahead of the release, Complex is debuting an exclusive look at one of the most iconic moments set to be depicted in the film.
As fans are aware, MJ debuted his signature Moonwalk dance during a performance of his hit “Billie Jean” at a Motown 25th anniversary special in 1983, thus permanently cementing the move in the public consciousness. This moment will indeed be shown in the new film, which also stars Nia Long and Colman Domingo, among others.
“’Billie Jean’ is probably Michael’s most iconic dance performance, the one, as my brother likes to say, that changed space and time,” Tone, one half of the Rich + Tone choreography team, said in a statement shared with Complex. “If Jaafar could get that performance, we knew he could do it all.”
To prepare for the role, Jaafar is said to have taken “rigorous” dance classes with Rich + Tone, a duo that should be familiar to longtime King of Pop fans. Jaafar also worked with an acting coach, and at one point started sleeping and rehearsing in his uncle’s former bedroom in Encino.
Below, get an exclusive early look at the Moonwalk sequence from Michael.
Also crucial to the film was the work of choreographer Michael Peters, who worked with MJ on the “Thriller” video. Per Rich + Tone, they had “such big respect” for Peters’ contributions, which inspired them to put in the work to ensure Jaafar could honor the magic of it all.
“It took a lot of work with Jaafar because there are so many different elements: African dance, jazz dance, as well as Michael’s signature moves,” the duo explained. “So we had to make sure Jaafar had all of that language in his body. That initial walk of one, two, then the hand, then the head, had to grab you.”
Michael hits theaters on April 24. Up top, revisit the film’s official trailer, featuring a glimpse at the one and only Bubbles.
