{"id":546686,"date":"2026-04-23T16:09:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T16:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/546686\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T16:09:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T16:09:11","slug":"janet-jackson-declined-to-be-portrayed-in-new-film-michael-says-sister-la-toya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/546686\/","title":{"rendered":"Janet Jackson declined to be portrayed in new film \u2018Michael\u2019, says sister La Toya"},"content":{"rendered":"

Janet Jackson<\/a> declined to be portrayed in the new biopic of her brother, Michael, according to La Toya Jackson.<\/p>\n

The film, titled Michael<\/a>, was released in UK cinemas this week (April 22) and charts Michael Jackson\u2019s<\/a> life from his early days with the Jackson Five<\/a>, up to the peak of his success following the release of the album \u2018Bad\u2019. Michael Jackson is played by his nephew, Jaafar, and the movie was made with the cooperation of the late singer\u2019s estate.<\/p>\n

Most of the Jackson family who were alive during that time are portrayed, although pop icon Janet is notably absent.<\/p>\n

During the film\u2019s Los Angeles premiere on Monday (April 20), La Toya Jackson spoke to Variety<\/a> about why her sister was left out of the movie. \u201cI wish everybody was in the movie,\u201d she said. \u201cShe was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.\u201d The director of the film, Antoine Fuqua, told the outlet: \u201cI have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know it\u2019s OK. She\u2019s supportive of Jaafar and that\u2019s what matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

La Toya Jackson says Jaafar Jackson’s performance in #MichaelMovie<\/a> is so convincing, she and her family would think they were “watching Mike.” pic.twitter.com\/40bCXQAS7U<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Variety (@Variety) April 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Michael is predicted by industry website Deadline<\/a> to open to a $150million (\u00a3111million) worldwide opening weekend at the box office, a record for a music biopic. The most successful overall gross for the genre is 2018\u2019s Bohemian Rhapsody<\/a>, which made $910.8 million (\u00a3674million) and was produced by Graham King, who is also behind Michael.<\/p>\n

Recently, it was revealed the film had to undergo extra reshoots to change the ending<\/a>, after it was discovered past legal challenges faced by Jackson could not be portrayed on screen. Elsewhere, Fuqua questioned the integrity of his past accusers<\/a>, saying that while he doesn\u2019t know the truth of what happened, \u201csometimes people do nasty things for money.\u201d<\/p>\n