The nephew of the King of Pop, Jaafar Jackson, continues his unstoppable rise in Hollywood. After captivating critics and the public with his portrayal of his uncle Michael Jackson in the successful biography Michael - which exceeded one billion dollars at the box office - the 30-year-old young actor has already secured his next big project. He will join Will Smith in “Supermax,” an action thriller directed by David Gordon Green, known for his work in the “Halloween” saga.
The news was confirmed by Smith himself through his social networks. On Monday, the actor shared a video with an exchange of text messages between the two, accompanied by the message: “They are not ready.”
Praise for Jaafar Jackson
In the conversation, Smith is full of praise for Jackson, writing: "I love what you do. You are the TRUTH." Although no details have yet been revealed about the character Jackson will play, Smith described it as a “fun role,” which increases anticipation among fans of both artists.
The film, titled “Supermax”, promises to be an intense action thriller. The plot follows a pair of FBI agents, played by Will Smith and AnnaSophia Robb, as they investigate a seemingly impossible murder that occurs within the impenetrable walls of a maximum security prison.
The direction of David Gordon Green, with his experience in the thriller genre, adds additional appeal to the project.
Jackson's signing for “Supermax” comes at a high point in his career. His metamorphosis into the iconic singer in “Michael” was praised, and it is expected that his name will begin to be heard strongly in the next awards season, according to experts.
The biopic, however, generated debate for focusing on Jackson's life without addressing the controversies that marked his final years, ending with a card that reads "His story continues."
This open ending is no coincidence. Adam Fogelson, head of Lionsgate, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that a possible sequel is already in the works.
“This first film falls far short of telling the entire story of Michael Jackson,” Fogelson explained.
"There's a lot of incredible music in this catalog that this part of the story doesn't touch on. So we've said there's room for another movie, and I can tell you that the filmmaking team has been working hard to get ready for a second movie, and when the time is right, we'll be happy to announce that that will definitely happen," he said.
Meanwhile, Will Smith's return to the big screen with “Supermax” is also a highly anticipated event. His last film, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” grossed more than $400 million worldwide, proving that the actor remains one of the highest-grossing names in the industry.
