Samoan Choreography Duo Propels Michael Jackson Biopic to Global Box Office Records

Rich and Tone Talauega, the Samoan choreographers behind the record-breaking Michael Jackson biopic, discuss their Pacific roots and training Jaafar Jackson.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 7:04 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

From Pava'ia'i to Hollywood: The Talauega Journey

Descending from the villages of Pava'ia'i and Sa'ilele in American Samoa, Rich and Tone grew up in Richmond, California. Their professional trajectory is a testament to the fusion of traditional Samoan discipline and street dance culture. The brothers were the youngest of 14 children, an upbringing they credit with instilling the relentless work ethic required for high-stakes Hollywood production.

Their history with the Jackson estate is deeply personal. They were dancers on the HIStory World Tour in 1996 and later choreographed the 2001 music video for "You Rock My World." This decades-long relationship made them the natural choice to shepherd the next generation of the Jackson legacy through the rigorous physical demands of the 2026 film.

The Two-Year Transformation of Jaafar Jackson

The production of Michael was a four-year marathon, with the first two years dedicated almost exclusively to training Jaafar Jackson, who lacked formal dance or acting experience. The Talauega brothers identified "Billie Jean" as the benchmark for the film's success.

"The reason why we picked Billie Jean was because we thought that was not only the bar in terms of one of the best performances ever on television, it was a one-man show... If he can pull this off, he can take the weight of the rest of the film," Tone Talauega explained.