Fans are excited to know that actress Nia Long, has now formally joined the cast and is playing Katherine Jackson, the adored Jackson family matriarch.
It was previously revealed that Colman Domingo will play Joe Jackson, the family patriarch, and Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson will play the titular musician.
Antoine Fuqua released a statement saying, “Nia Long has delivered iconic performances throughout her career. Because her characters linger with you, I’ve been a fan for a very long time. I’m thrilled to be working with her as she devotes all of that to Katherine Jackson, the Jackson family’s pillar of support and source of joy both in their happier and darker moments”.
Michael is expected to chronicle the singer’s complicated legacy. According to the logline, the story will portray a “brilliant yet complicated man” who became known as one of the greatest performers of all time.
John Logan, whose screenwriting credits include Gladiator, Sweeney Todd, and the James Bond movies Skyfall and Spectre, penned the script.
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“Katherine Jackson is an incredible pillar of strength and grace for the entire Jackson family,” Long said.
“As a mother, she was selfless and endured forces beyond her control yet still managed to help build a legacy beyond measure.”
The film is presently under production with a release date of April 18, 2025. Along with John McClain and John Branca, co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody) is producing the film.
Except for Japan, which Lionsgate will manage, Universal Pictures International will handle all international distribution of the movie. Lionsgate is handling domestic distribution.
“Nia’s connection to the material and her commitment to honoring Katherine and the love she had for her son deeply moved me, even beyond her extraordinary talent,” King said in a statement.
Boyz n the Hood, Love Jones, Soul Food, The Best Man, and Big Momma’s House are just a few of the films for which Nia Long is most well-known.
Most recently, she starred in the comedy “You People” on Netflix. She had notable parts in the TV series “Third Watch,” a criminal drama, and the sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”