TL;DR: The Michael Jackson biopic Michael (2026) was choreographed by Samoan brothers Rich and Tone Talauega, who trained lead actor Jaafar Jackson — Michael's nephew — for two years before filming. The Talauegas trace their roots to Pava'ia'i and Sa'ilele in American Samoa, and credit their parents (who raised 14 kids) and their Samoan upbringing for the work ethic that took them from a Richmond, California church choir to the biggest music biopic in box office history. Michael opened to a record-breaking US$217 million worldwide, and at the centre of every move on screen are two proud Samoan men.
Who Choreographed the Michael Jackson Movie?
The Michael Jackson movie Michael (2026) was choreographed by Rich and Tone Talauega, two Samoan-American brothers who have worked directly with Michael Jackson since they were teenagers. They served as lead choreographers on the film and personally trained Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew and the actor playing him, for nearly two years before cameras rolled in early 2024.
If you have watched the film and felt the moonwalk, the spin, the freeze — that is the Talauega brothers' fingerprints on every frame.
Who Are Rich and Tone Talauega?
Rich and Tone Talauega are choreographers, directors, and dancers of Samoan heritage. They grew up in Richmond, California as the youngest of 14 children, raised by parents who hosted church choir practices in their living room and taught them Samoan cultural dances alongside the street dance they were absorbing from the Bay Area in the early 1990s.
They were discovered as teenagers — Rich at 17, Tone at 15 — by Michael Jackson's choreographer at an album release party in Oakland. From there, they became part of MJ's inner circle, dancing on the HIStory World Tour in 1996 and choreographing his "You Rock My World" music video in 2001.
Their client list since includes Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, and Chris Brown. But the Michael Jackson biopic is, in their own words, the project of a lifetime — a four-year journey that began as a personal favour to a family they had grown up inside of.
Where in Samoa Are the Talauega Brothers From?
The Talauega family traces its roots to two villages in American Samoa:
- Pava'ia'i on the main island of Tutuila
- Sa'ilele, a small coastal village on the north-eastern side of Tutuila
Although Rich and Tone were born and raised in California, both brothers speak openly about their Samoan identity being the foundation of everything they do. "We don't fake it, we're Samoans," Rich told RNZ Pacific when the film opened.
How Did Samoan Culture Shape Their Choreography?
Ask any Samoan and they will tell you: dance is not separate from life in the islands. It is woven through church, family gatherings, fa'alavelave, and everyday celebration. The Talauega brothers grew up performing siva Samoa at home before they ever stepped into a street dance battle.
That dual training — the controlled grace of Samoan movement meeting the snap and pop of West Coast street dance — became their signature. When you watch Jaafar Jackson move through "Billie Jean" or "Smooth Criminal" in Michael, you are watching choreography filtered through a Samoan creative lens.
The brothers have also spoken about how watching their parents support 14 children shaped their approach to work. Long hours, family-first decisions, no shortcuts. That is the unspoken rhythm behind every MJ tribute they have ever staged.
How Did They Train Jaafar Jackson?
Jaafar Jackson, who plays his uncle in the film, came into the project with no formal dance or acting training. The Talauega brothers spent two full years with him before filming began in early 2024.
Their first lesson was deliberate. "We should start with Billie Jean," Tone explained — citing the 1983 Motown 25 performance as "the bar in terms of like one of the best performances ever." If Jaafar could carry that one song, with nothing but a microphone, a hat, and a moonwalk, the rest of the film would follow.
The training wasn't just steps. It was posture, breath, the way Michael held silence between movements. The Talauegas had danced with the real Michael Jackson — they knew the texture of those moves in their bones. They passed that lineage directly to his nephew.
Why This Matters for the Samoan Community
For the Pacific diaspora — in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and back home in the islands — the Talauega brothers' work on Michael is more than a film credit. It is a marker. Two Samoan boys from a 14-kid household, raised in a working-class corner of California, are now the architects of the most successful music biopic ever made.
That story lands differently when you grow up Samoan. We have always known our people can do this. The world is finally catching up.
It joins a growing list of Samoan and broader Pacific excellence on the global stage — alongside Parris Goebel, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Joseph Manu, and the long line of artists, athletes, and storytellers carrying our culture into rooms it has never been in before.
How Did the Movie Perform?
Michael opened to US$217 million worldwide in its first weekend — a record for a music biopic. Despite mixed critical reviews around the film's editorial choices, the audience response was undeniable. The Talauega brothers described seeing it climb to the number one film in the world as "like living in a dream."
Four years of work. Two years training Jaafar. Three decades of preparation before that. And at the centre of it, a Samoan story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Samoan choreographer of the Michael Jackson movie?
The Michael Jackson movie Michael (2026) was choreographed by Rich and Tone Talauega, two brothers of Samoan heritage from Pava'ia'i and Sa'ilele in American Samoa.
Is Parris Goebel in the Michael Jackson movie?
No. Parris Goebel — also of Samoan heritage — was not involved in the choreography for Michael. The lead choreographers were the Talauega brothers.
Did the Talauega brothers actually know Michael Jackson?
Yes. They were discovered by his choreographer as teenagers, danced on the HIStory World Tour in 1996, and choreographed his 2001 music video "You Rock My World."
Who plays Michael Jackson in the 2026 movie?
Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's nephew, plays the title role. He was personally trained by the Talauega brothers for two years before filming.
Where in Samoa are Rich and Tone Talauega from?
Their family is from the villages of Pava'ia'i and Sa'ilele in American Samoa.
How long did it take to make the Michael Jackson movie?
The film was four years in the making, with the Talauega brothers spending two of those years training Jaafar Jackson before filming started in early 2024.
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Celebrating Samoan Excellence
At The Koko Samoa, we are obsessed with stories like this. Two brothers from a 14-kid Samoan family, raised on church songs and street dance, are now the creative force behind a film that broke box office records on opening weekend. That is fa'a Samoa on a world stage — work ethic, family, and culture, all moving together.
If their story sparked something in you, shop our Polynesian designed mugs, tees, and tote bags and carry that same pride into your everyday. Every print is rooted in Samoan tradition, and every order supports Samoan-owned storytelling.
Manuia le aso.
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Sources
- Samoan choreographers behind Michael Jackson biopic proud of Pacific roots — RNZ Pacific
- Samoan choreographers behind Michael Jackson biopic proud of Pacific roots — NZ Herald
- Samoa Observer — Samoan brothers behind MJ film dances
- Michael (2026 film) — Wikipedia)
- Becoming Michael: how Jaafar Jackson trained to portray his uncle — NME
