Michael has officially arrived. Directed by Antonine Fuqua, the film dives deep into the early life of the King of Pop, from childhood prodigy to his official split from the Jackson 5. But let’s be clear, you can’t tell the story of Michael Jackson without the brothers who built the legacy with him.
A full lineup of young actors has stepped into the Jackson brothers’ iconic shoes to bring them to life on screen. EBONY tapped in with three of the film’s rising stars to talk lessons learned and what it really took to transform into the Jacksons.
Rhyan Hill stars as Tito Jackson, the family’s steady, musically gifted second-oldest brother and the Jackson 5’s lead guitarist, known for anchoring the group’s sound.
Image: Christopher Patey/Getty Images for Lionsgate
“In my audition for Tito, I was dancing with a guitar in front of them, and the next thing I knew, I had booked it and was starting rehearsal. I learned how to play the guitar, which he famously played in the group. Playing the role, I learned a lot about Tito—his personality and his essence. My favorite costume was Tito’s Motown 25 look because it’s something I’d want to wear today, especially the jersey that says “Jacksons” on it.
My favorite performance was one of the songs we did for the Victory Tour, a number that really allowed us to go all out. The energy from the audience and from my “brothers” was electric, and in those moments, it truly felt like we were the real Jacksons. We Jackson 5 actors formed a natural bond and connection. We knew we were in this together from the beginning. Oh, A fun fact I learned from his son, TJ, was that Tito coached his sons in baseball!”
Tre’ Horton stars as Marlon Jackson, the energetic middle brother and fifth child of the Jackson family, known for his dynamic stage presence and underrated dance ability within the group.
“The little boy in me can’t believe my first film is the Michael Jackson movie, and I’m Marlon Jackson. Even though I wasn’t even thought of during the height of their success, I grew up learning and having an appreciation for the family. I had no idea how much of an incredible dancer Marlon is! Going into this, I joked with myself that I wouldn’t have to worry about too much complex choreography. Having to study Marlon’s nuances, I quickly learned he was just as incredible a performer as Michael. I definitely had to get the body rolls right. That’s Marlon’s signature!
Like Rhyan, my favorite performance to recreate was the Victory Tour sequence. It was very surreal and actually my first day shooting. Hearing the loud music playback and performing in front of about 500 extras made it feel like an out-of-body experience. And my favorite look was definitely the first look of the Victory Tour. We all became very tight during this process. I think the blood, sweat and tears that we shed during dance rehearsals made us form an even tighter bond.”
Juliano Krue Valdi stars as the young version of Michael Jackson, the child singing phenom who would go on to become a global sensation.
“I learned that he was a really hard worker. Even at a young age, he would wake up really early or stay up really late to study and practice his dancing or his singing. I also loved that he cared about people, that he was a genuine and caring guy. That’s what I really appreciated about him.”