Memphis has another rising star—and he’s headed to the big screen. Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, a 15-year-old actor from Memphis and student at Briarcrest Christian School, will appear in the highly anticipated biopic “Michael,” portraying a young Marlon Jackson of the legendary Jackson 5.
Set for release on April 24, the film traces Michael Jackson’s path from his early days as a preteen sensation in the 1960s and ’70s through the record-breaking success of Thriller. Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, stars as the adult Michael, while Atlanta actor Tre’ Horton takes on the role of an older Marlon. Jaylen will make his feature film debut as the youthful version of the Jackson 5 member.
Jaylen’s scenes were filmed in Los Angeles last year, his mother Crystelle Jones shared. Though new to the big screen, Jaylen is no stranger to performing as Marlon—he previously played the role in the touring production of “MJ: The Musical.” When the show arrived at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis last fall, Jaylen had already stepped away from the tour to begin filming the movie…