Rhyan Hill is no stranger to major cultural moments. As a multi-talented performer who began acting and dancing at a young age, his impressive resume includes dancing alongside Kendrick Lamar at Super Bowl LIX and featuring in Childish Gambino’s iconic This Is America music video.
His acting credits are equally stellar, with appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, a series regular role as Devontae on BET+’s The Michael Blackson Show, and a memorable arc on HBO’s hit series Lovecraft Country.
All of Hill’s recent success has propelled him to his biggest role yet: portraying Tito Jackson in the highly anticipated biographical musical drama, Michael.
Michael is set to hit theaters and IMAX on April 24th. Produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody) and directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film chronicles the incredible life of pop superstar Michael Jackson, from his extraordinary early days in the Jackson 5 to his relentless pursuit of becoming the world’s biggest entertainer.
The star-studded ensemble cast features Jaafar Jackson starring as Michael, alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Miles Teller, and Larenz Tate.
For Hill, securing the role of the legendary guitarist and original Jackson 5 member was a thrilling, life-changing experience.
“I remember when I got it… Antoine Fuqua and Graham King told me in person that I got it on a soundstage and I went to rehearsal immediately, and I was over the moon,” Hill shared in an exclusive interview with The Quintessential Gentleman. “I wanted to dance across the room. I wanted to jump, but I was able to keep my excitement in somehow.”
To prepare for the massive role, Hill immersed himself in study to perfectly capture Tito’s essence. “Right when I got the role, I went straight into a deep dive of extensive research from watching interviews and watching the Victory Tour and Triumph Tour and just any clips that I saw of him performing and looking at pictures,” he explains.
Through this preparation, he discovered a fascinating dynamic within the famous family. “I really learned how reserved and relaxed Tito was, which was something really interesting because you know when you have a big family like that who are on top of the world You would think that they’re all kind of I guess hyper not hyper but have a lot of energy which they all have energy but it was just it was interesting to know that person Tito’s personality was a little bit different,” Hill notes.
Acting opposite veterans like Domingo and Long offered Hill an invaluable learning opportunity on set. “I learned so much just from watching them in scenes, and it was essentially getting a free masterclass of watching them because it always brought something different and something special into all the scenes,” Hill says of his experienced co-stars.
Hill also spoke highly of working alongside Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew, who steps into the titular role. Recreating such an intimate family dynamic could have been daunting, but Hill praises Jaafar’s welcoming nature and intense dedication to honoring his uncle’s legacy.
“When I first met Jaafar, he was so nice and so open to letting all of us into this personal story that means so much to him,” Hill shared. “And he handled it with such grace. And again, to be able to invite all of the whole cast into this story was amazing, such an honor to do.”
While some might assume Jaafar’s casting was a given due to his lineage, Hill emphasizes the immense effort his co-star put into the project. “And I’m so excited for everyone to see the hard work he spent. Two years just preparing for the role,” Hill shares. He added, “I know he’s related to Michael, but it was not just handed to him. He definitely earned the role .” Ultimately, Hill promises fans won’t be disappointed, simply stating, “he kills it in the film.”
As the April 24th release date approaches, anticipation is sky-high. When asked what he hopes audiences will take away from this specific look into the King of Pop’s life, Hill emphasizes the humanity behind the global superstar.
“I’m excited for people to see those intimate moments and learn more about Michael because there’s so much more to learn about Michael,” Hill states. “And there’s always things that people are discovering. and things that I discovered and that audience are going to discover too.”
Reflecting on the entire journey, Hill is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help tell this iconic story.
“The whole experience, I always say, have told people that it was one of the best experiences of my life to be able to recreate these iconic performances and visiting these iconic locations and working with this talented cast, Coleman Domingo, Nia Long,” he shared. “It’s unbelievable really. So I’d literally do the whole thing again if I could.”
Check out the full interview.
Photo Credit: Dean Foreman/Lionsgate
