‘Michael’: Nia Long on Giving Katherine Jackson Her Due, Separating Her Performance From Angela Bassett’s and What She Wants to See in a Sequel

Home Film Features Apr 28, 2026 2:27pm PT ‘Michael’: Nia Long on Giving Katherine Jackson Her Due, Separating Her Performance From Angela Bassett’s and What She Wants to See in a Sequel By Angelique Jackson Plus Icon Angelique Jackson angelique814 Latest ‘Michael’: Nia Long on Giving Katherine Jackson Her Due, Separating Her Performance From Angela Bassett’s and What She Wants to See in a Sequel 22 minutes ago Macro and a16z’s Cultural Leadership Fund Announce Inaugural Class for the Epigraph Creator Fellowship 3 hours ago Matthew McConaughey, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal and Tang Wei to Star in Park Chan-wook’s ‘The Brigands of Rattlecreek’ 4 days ago See All Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Lionsgate Last week, Nia Long got the tap on the shoulder she’s been waiting for forever. It was a summons from Katherine Jackson, the matriarch of the Jackson family, whom she portrays in the new biopic, “Michael.” Long steeled herself as she walked into a green room backstage at the Dolby Theatre and, when they came face to face, she froze for a moment. Then, she kneeled down, held the 95-year-old woman’s hand and said, “Thank you so much for all your sacrifices, for your love, for your patience, for your commitment to family.” Related Stories 'Avengers: Doomsday' Trailer: Thor Battles Doctor Doom, Chris Evans Picks Up the Hammer, X-Men Back in Action in Thrilling CinemaCon Footage