Michael Jackson’s Nephew Jaafar Channels the King of Pop While Recreating ‘Thriller’ Music Video for Upcoming Biopic

It's “Thriller” night on the set of the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael.

In new photos from the film's Los Angeles set, Jaafar Jackson channels his uncle, the late King of Pop, as he recreates the singer's iconic 1983 “Thriller” music video for the biopic.

The shots, captured on Friday, May 24, show Jaafar (the 27-year-old son of Jermaine Jackson and nephew to Michael) embodying the role for the Antoine Fuqua-directed film.

As revealed by previous photos, his resemblance to Michael is uncanny.

For the new scenes, Jaafar rocked yet another one of his real-life uncle's legendary ensembles — perhaps his most iconic of all time.

The singer-turned-actor donned the King of Pop's signature leather jacket to and an ’80s mullet to recreate the nearly 14-minute-long musical horror film, in which Michael transforms into a zombie-like creature after a movie date.

Also spotted in the new photos is the actress portraying Ola Ray, who starred as Michael's unsuspecting date in the video. The actress has not yet been identified, but she nailed Ray's ultra-’80s “Thriller” ensemble from head to toe.

The video would not be complete without its hoard of dancing zombies — whose choreography took some inspiration fromWest Side Story's “America,” Rita Moreno recently revealed to PEOPLE.

Speaking about the iconic choreography (which was also memorably featured in 13 Going on 30) last month, Moreno said, “I love to tell the story."

"Michael told me one day that I was a huge favorite of his, in this tiny little voice," she continued. "And he said, ‘I’ve always loved your dancing, and I copied some of -

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the steps,’ and sure enough, when I saw ‘Thriller,’ I saw some of the steps from ‘America.’ ”

“Oh he loved, he loved 'America,'" Moreno added of Jackson. “He just loved the choreography. He was influenced by West Side Story choreographer Jerome Robbins. Oh, very much. Very much."

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Although the actress portraying Ray has not yet been announced, much of Michael's cast has been revealed.

The star-studded cast will include Kat GrahamasDiana Ross, Jessica Sula asLa Toya Jackson, Liv Symone asGladys Knight,Kendrick SampsonasQuincy Jones,Miles Telleras John Branca,Colman Domingoas Jackson family patriarchJoe Jackson.

In a January 2023 chat about the biopic, which marks Jaafar’s first foray into acting, director Fuqua toldVariety that it is "incredibly exciting to watch Jaafar bring Michael to life."

“There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera,” he added of Michael's real-life nephew.

The Equalizer and Training Day director also previously said in an official statement that the team behind Michael consists of "incredible" hair and makeup artists, costume designers, lighting artists and more — including some “who knew and worked with" the late King of Pop.

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