Prince Jackson on Producing Michael Jackson Biopic in ABC Interview Before Release

The biopic covers Michael Jackson's 1960s rise from his childhood music group The Jackson 5 to his solo career during the Bad tour in the late 1980s.

Jaafar Jackson, Prince Jackson's cousin and the son of Jermaine Jackson, plays Michael Jackson in the movie. Prince Jackson and Jaafar Jackson attended the Los Angeles premiere of 'Michael' at Dolby Theatre on April 20, 2026, in Los Angeles, California.

Prince Jackson described the experience of growing up with Jaafar at Hayvenhurst, the California home of their grandfather Joe Jackson, where they made home movies as children.

'One of the greatest experiences of my life -- growing up with Jaafar as we did at Hayvenhurst as siblings, as cousins, making home movies to now here we are making a major motion picture about my father, his uncle -- someone we both love very much,' Prince Jackson said.

He added that seeing Jaafar in costume as his father was an emotional shock. '[It] was really an emotional shock because I had not seen my father in a long time,' Prince Jackson told Davis.

Prince Jackson recounted struggling to maintain composure during that moment. 'And it was difficult to maintain and keep composure because I really just wanted to give him a hug in that moment. But I had to tell him like, 'Jaafar, I'm proud of you.

You're gonna do great. But I need to take a little step outside and get some air,'' he told Davis. The interview highlighted Prince Jackson's hope that the film contextualizes his father's hard work.

'For those of us, like myself and younger, that never got to experience that [part Michael Jackson's career], I hope that it contextualizes the growth and the rise to stardom and the hard work and effort that my father put into it,' Prince Jackson told Davis. He emphasized his father's misunderstood nature. 'I think that my father is probably one of the most misunderstood people out there.

And I hope that you get a glimpse into the life and the cause and effect that made him who he was,' Prince Jackson said. Antoine Fuqua, known for directing 'Training Day' and 'The Equalizer,' helmed the biopic. Michael Jackson performed during the 'Bad' tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 3, 1988.

Prince Jackson operates the non-profit Heal Los Angeles Foundation and brought some families served by the organization to the LA premiere of 'Michael' to experience the red carpet and meet cast members and celebrities. '[Michael Jackson] still made time to give back and used his platform to highlight social needs. And that's where we take inspiration at the Heal Los Angeles Foundation ...

We want to inspire young people to be their best and to give them the tools that they need to succeed,' Prince Jackson told Davis.