When a film dares to tackle a figure as monumental as Michael Jackson, you know the discussion will be vibrant in its own provocative way. Yet Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, isn’t simply here to parade MJ’s moonwalk and a catalog of hits; it draws us deeply into the orbit of his family, the weight of expectations, and the birth of a legend.
When MadameNoire sat down with Nia Long, Colman Domingo, and rising star Juliano Valdez, it was clear this wasn’t just another retelling. Under the direction of Fuqua, Michael doesn’t merely revisit the performances we know by heart—it leans into the tension, tenderness, and transformation that shaped a global icon.
What unfolded in our conversation was equal parts reverence and realness, but also a surprising amount of humor, especially when it came to stepping into roles that required them to bend time, age, and expectation.
When I joked that Nia didn’t seem “old enough to play nobody’s mama,” she didn’t miss a beat. “I actually am,” she said with a laugh, before grounding the role in something deeper. “Catherine was a young mother… you have to think about what women carried in the early ’60s. She had a lot of children, very young.” Then, with a wink to every black woman on the planet, she added, “Most importantly… we don’t age.”
That emotional weight was something Juliano Valdez carried with him throughout filming, especially in the more difficult scenes. To portray those moments authentically, he said, he simply thought about the reality of Michael’s childhood. “He wanted to be a regular kid… but he didn’t get to do that because he was always rehearsing.”
Still, Michael isn’t just about pain—it’s about purpose, artistry, and legacy. And for Nia, that’s what she hopes audiences walk away with. “Michael was a humanitarian, an artist, a sensitive soul… someone who really cared.”
Michael is in theaters now. Watch the full interview above.
