Colman Domingo is stepping into one of his most transformative roles yet, portraying Joe Jackson in the highly anticipated biopic Michael, which is set to hit theaters on October 3, 2025.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the film chronicles the life and career of Michael Jackson, diving into both his legendary musical achievements and the personal struggles that made him one of the most complex figures in entertainment history.
In an interview with The Jennifer Hudson Show, Domingo shared how stepping into Joe Jackson’s shoes gave him a new perspective on the controversial Jackson family patriarch.
“It has [changed my perception of him] because I feel like anytime you need to research a character, and especially a character who has had such public scrutiny, you have to really examine the man,” Domingo explained. “I wanted to look at this man who was from a very humble place—a blue-collar worker—and he had a bunch of kids, and they had talent, and he wanted to give everything he had to make sure they were the best. And they were.”
Joe Jackson was known as a strict disciplinarian who pushed his children, particularly Michael, to greatness, but he was also accused of being abusive. The film will explore the duality of his character, showcasing both the sacrifices he made and the controversy that followed him.
Domingo has hinted at the lengths he’s gone to physically transform for the role, saying in an interview with W Magazine that his look is virtually unrecognizable.
“My skin is lighter because Joe was a bit more fair-skinned. I had prosthetics on top of my head above my eye, and my nose is different,” he said. “We really leaned into the different periods of Joe—where he was a little younger and slicker, and then when he started to have his little pooch. I needed that pooch.”
The film’s star-studded cast includes Jaafar Jackson (Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew) as Michael Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother and Miles Teller as John Branca, Michael’s attorney and co-executor of his estate.
One of the most surreal moments for Domingo came during filming when he saw Jaafar Jackson in full costume performing as Michael Jackson.
“It’s uncanny,” he said. “Antoine Fuqua asked me to come to the soundstage because ‘your sons’ were performing one of the numbers. And when I tell you, I felt like I was looking at the Jacksons in the ‘80s. It was brilliant.”
Domingo said he felt a deep sense of protection over the young actors playing the Jackson family, mirroring Joe Jackson’s own sense of responsibility over his children. “Jafaar is one of the kindest human beings. He’s special, he’s gifted, and he’s not taking it lightly playing his uncle,” Domingo said.
As anticipation builds for Michael, Domingo hopes audiences walk away with a more nuanced understanding of Joe Jackson, rather than seeing him as simply a villain or hero. “He and his wife created some of the most phenomenal artists that have ever walked this planet,” he shared.
Photo Credit: Chris Haston/Warner Bros.
