Jaafar Jackson Just Landed His Biggest Award Yet and Oscar Talk Is Only Getting Louder
The Michael Jackson biopic universe has seen its share of stalled projects and false starts over the years, but ‘Michael’ finally broke through when it hit theaters this spring. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film traces Michael Jackson’s journey from his early days with the Jackson 5 through his rise as a global music icon. It arrived with a mountain of expectation attached to one name in particular, Jaafar Jackson.
Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson, born July 25, 1996, is Michael Jackson’s real life nephew and the son of Jermaine Jackson, and ‘Michael’ marks his acting debut. The casting was approved by Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, who said Jaafar embodies her son. It was not a decision made lightly either, since Fuqua only confirmed Jackson’s casting in December 2023 after a lengthy search.
That long runway of preparation appears to be paying off in a big way. The Hollywood Creative Alliance recently named Jackson the winner of Best Actor at the 2026 Astra Midseason Movie Awards, beating out a stacked field that included Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall, Ralph Fiennes and Ryan Gosling, who finished as runner up. The win came after Jackson had already picked up a nomination heading into the ceremony, and it marked the biggest industry validation for his performance so far.
The momentum behind ‘Michael’ extends well beyond one trophy. The film has become one of the year’s most talked about box office stories, continuing to post strong numbers around the world long after its initial release, and it has already crossed the 900 million dollar mark globally, putting it within reach of a billion dollar haul.
Critics have been split, but that has not stopped the awards conversation from building. Despite a 38 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, industry watchers argue the film has to be treated as awards viable, pointing to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as a precedent for a musical biopic overcoming mixed reviews to land major nominations. Variety’s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman was more generous than most, writing in his review that Jaafar Jackson gets Michael’s tentative high sugary voice just right, while also showing the audience how that voice was crafted, a line that Variety published as part of its broader case for Jackson’s Oscar prospects.
Fans have not been shy about pushing the narrative either. Filmmaker Farah Khan publicly called for Jackson to win an Oscar next year, sharing that the film is for the fans and not for the critics. That kind of grassroots enthusiasm has mirrored what early US screenings generated, with audiences responding strongly to the depth and sincerity Jaafar brought to the role.
Whether that enthusiasm survives the crowded fall campaign season remains an open question. Some pundits have already floated ‘Michael’ as a legitimate Best Picture contender, even as that prediction draws pushback online. With two Astra wins now in hand and box office numbers still climbing, ‘Michael’ looks poised to stay part of the conversation deep into awards season.
Do you think Jaafar Jackson’s turn as his own uncle has what it takes to survive a crowded Best Actor race all the way to Oscar night?
