Janet Jackson is celebrating the 40th anniversary of her landmark album Control with a new concert film, Janet Jackson: Control 40, featuring the music legend performing the 1986 record in full.
The 60-year-old singer will record the special performance at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida on December 12, with a multi-camera production capturing the show for the upcoming film.
The performance will feature the songs from Control alongside selections from across Jackson’s extensive catalogue, while the singer has also promised new costumes, a new stage design and a possible look behind the making of the album.
Janet Jackson revisits control for new film
Jackson described the project as a new production rather than a straightforward recreation of the original Control era.
“It will be a whole new show – new costumes, new stage and maybe a little glimpse into the making of the album.”
She added:
“It’s going to be filmed for a movie, which means that our time together will be remembered for decades.”
Released in 1986, Control became a defining moment in Jackson’s career and established her as one of pop and R&B’s leading artists.
The album became Jackson’s first No. 1 record on the Billboard 200 in the US and produced an extraordinary run of successful singles.
Five songs from Control reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100: “What Have You Done for Me Lately”, “Nasty”, “When I Think of You”, “Control” and “Let’s Wait Awhile”.
Jackson became the first woman to score five top-five Billboard Hot 100 singles from one album, while “When I Think of You” gave her the first No. 1 single of her career.
The Control era also produced a continuous 65-week run of charting singles on the Hot 100, further establishing the album’s impact on the US pop charts.
Control 40 comes amid Michael biopic discussion
The announcement of Janet Jackson: Control 40 comes after Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson suggested that Janet could have her own biopic in development.
Jaafar portrays his late uncle Michael Jackson in the upcoming Michael sequel and previously discussed why Janet did not participate in director Antoine Fuqua’s film about the King of Pop.
Speaking to GQ Middle East, Jaafar suggested that Janet may have her own plans for a film about her life.
“I don’t want to speak too early, but Janet has ideas of maybe doing her own film.”
He continued:
“So having someone portrayed in this and then choosing a different actor for her own is just…”
Janet declined to participate in the Michael biopic, which focuses on the life and career of her brother, who died in 2009.
Her sister LaToya Jackson, 69, has previously said that Janet had “kindly declined” the opportunity to be involved in the film.
Jaafar Jackson recalls family reaction to Michael
Jaafar also spoke about the emotional response from his family after they watched an early screening of footage from Michael.
“I didn’t want to be in the room, but I was like, I should, just because it’s a lot to take in, especially portraying your family member and then having all your family there.”
He said several members of the family became emotional while watching the footage.
“There were some sniffles, a few cousins getting emotional,”
Jaafar added:
“And after it ended, I just got so many hugs and a lot of support… It was a relief, because there was a lot of worry as to how it was going to be done. But once they saw my portrayal, it was a huge relief.”
For now, Janet’s focus is firmly back on Control, an album that transformed her career and produced some of her most recognisable songs.
Janet Jackson: Control 40 will capture the anniversary performance at Amerant Bank Arena on December 12, combining the complete Control album with material from across Jackson’s career.
