The recent Michael Jackson biopic features a young actor from the MidSouth, 16 year old Briarcrest student Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, who plays a younger version of Marlon Jackson.
Hunter actually previously played Marlon Jackson during the national theater tour of “MJ: The Musical,” but when he was given this lifetime chance to reprise his role on the silver screen, Hunter said “Stepping into those shoes really brought me to another world, like, another universe. Being the greats, you know. The great Jackson five.”
Hunter also greatly appreciated learning from veteran actors on set like Nia Long, Larenz Tate, and Colman Domingo, stating “They showed us how to show up and be serious. How we can goof off sometimes. They made it fun, but also, they made us realize it’s a job at the end of the day.”
And while he has a bright future ahead of him, Hunter stays grounded in his Memphis roots, saying “I’m proud to be a Memphian. I always say that. I’m never going to bash my city or hate my city because this is where I’m from. This is where my roots are grown. And if it wasn’t for Memphis, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
