- Primary Subject: Jaafar Jackson's singing voice in Michael
- Key Update: The production team used a specialized audio process to capture the unique essence of the King of Pop's voice.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: April 24, 2026
- Quick Answer: The vocals are a hybrid blend of live singing by Jaafar Jackson and Juliano Valdi mixed with Michael Jackson’s actual studio master recordings for authenticity.
One of the biggest questions audiences have regarding Michael is whether Jaafar Jackson actually did the singing voice of Michael Jackson in the new biopic.
The 29-year-old actor's performance as the King of Pop has been universally praised by audiences and even critics who were not enthusiastic about the film. They were impressed by how he embodied the late performer's singing and dancing skills in the biopic. Considering how Michael Jackson has a unique voice, some are wondering how Jaafar managed to recreate his vocals in the movie.
How Jaafar Jackson Recreated Michael Jackson's Singing Voice in Michael
Needless to say, Jaafar Jackson did some singing himself in his performance as Michael Jackson in Michael, particularly in the recreation of his iconic musical numbers. This is the same case for Juliano Valdi, who played the Jackson 5-era Michael.
However, to make the singing vocals sound more like Michael, the sound editing team had to do a savvy technique to blend Jaafar and Juliano's live vocals that were performed on set with Michael's original recordings.
In other words, the singing voices that you hear in the film are a blend of the actors' live vocals and Michael's real-life voice. This is why they managed to make Jaafar and Juliano sound almost entirely like Michael whenever we watch their musical numbers in the movie.
"We had the discussion a lot, could we have Jaafar and Juliano go to a studio and record those songs, and the answer was yes," Michael music supervisor, John Warhurst, explained to The Hollywood Reporter.
"They were capable of delivering those vocals. But then it becomes more of an overall philosophy of when people go see the movie, do they want real Michael to be a part of this movie, or do they want it to just be 100 percent Giuliano and Jaafar? Every movie is different, but here we think people want Michael to be a part of it."
This process is not new in making a musician biopic, as it was also done in the past in titles such as Bohemian Rhapsody, where they also had to blend the live vocals of the actor and the recordings of the original artist.
Nevertheless, what matters the most is that the audience was able to be convinced that they heard Michael Jackson's voice when they watched the film, and, based on the reactions, we can safely say that they were successful in that aspect.
What is Michael About?
Michael is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world.
Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before.
The main cast includes Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, Nia Long, Laura Harrier, and Juliano Krue Valdi. Antoine Fuqua directed the film, while John Logan wrote the script.
The film is currently showing in theaters. It is also available on IMAX and other premium formats.
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!