Photograph by Kevin Hernandez
When Tre’ Horton arrived in Los Angeles from Atlanta in 2022, he still wasn’t sure whether to focus on dancing, singing, or acting.
Growing up in Clayton County, Horton excelled in all three art forms, having honed his craft at Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts. “I have a passion for all three,” Horton tells Atlanta magazine. “But I know in an industry like this, if you’re a multi-hyphenate, you have to focus on one to try to get yourself out there.”
Luckily for Horton, his feature film debut gave him the chance to showcase all of these skills at once, as he plays Michael Jackson’s older brother Marlon in Michael, the biopic on the King of Pop.
We spoke to Horton just a few days after Michael’s premiere, and he still can’t quite believe the excitement the film has provoked. “It’s been a whirlwind. This is my first rodeo of being in a film. So I’ve been learning and soaking it all up. I’m just so grateful to be here. Hopefully, after Michael, I can build on this success and show who I am as an artist.”
Growing up he used to do fake interviews and photo shoots as he fantasized about achieving success. Now that he’s starring in one of the most anticipated movies of the year, Horton is keen to keep his feet on the ground. “Nothing can prepare you for it. You just have to do the hard work, homework, and be prepared for the role and the aftermath. It’s completely new, but I’m excited to roll with the punches.
To mark the release of Michael, Horton talks to Atlanta about growing up in and around the city, his Hollywood journey, and what he learned from working on the musical drama.
Talk me through how you got involved in Michael?
I actually got this audition quickly after I had moved back to L.A. I first moved out here right out of high school in 2018. Then Covid happened, so I moved back home to Atlanta. In 2022, I moved back to L.A. A few months after I sent my tape out, [I] got the audition. I knew I had the talent and could rise to the occasion. But at that point I’d also been auditioning for a lot of big things and not getting called back. That’s just part of the whole actor journey. Once I got the callback, it happened very quickly. Maybe just a few weeks. I was like, This is too good to be true. When Michael passed [in 2009], I’d been through a phase of listening and watching everything about him. He just had that aura. I grew up studying his moves and most likely doing them wrong. But he was someone I looked up to. At that time, as a Black kid getting into the arts, watching him and his brothers, he was inspiring. Especially because he started so young. I saw myself in him and thought, I can do this as well.
How did you prepare for the role?
I really studied Marlon and watched his performances and his nuances. I didn’t realize that Marlon is such an incredible dancer. I thought, Well, I’m not playing Michael, so I get a chance to chill out. I don’t have to worry about the complex choreography. I can just sing some songs. But watching Marlon, I was definitely like, Wow. I have to get to work. Marlon is such a great performer. He’s definitely up there with Michael when it comes to dancing. I had to just reawaken my dance skills, really work on my precision and choreography, and learn it the way that Marlon executed it. That was pretty fun. Because Marlon doesn’t hold back on stage. He’s very theatrical. He’s just very fun.
How would you describe Marlon?
Michael and Marlon, studying them, they’re really similar. They’re like twin souls. They’re not that far apart in age. They grew up learning and watching the same people. I really do believe that Marlon is Michael’s right-hand man on stage. Michael is extraordinary as a dancer. But I think he and Marlon leaned on each other, they fed off each other’s energy. I think Marlon is a jokester of the group. He keeps the brothers together. He’s the one that’s always playing jokes and being funny. It was very fun to be able to embody that to the best of my ability.
What was the most memorable moment making the film?
Every moment was a pinch-me moment. I would definitely say the performance scenes. We worked so hard on the rehearsals. We had almost two months—every single day, for hours—in boot camp. There were awkward moments where we looked crazy. But those moments count. Because once we got on stage, it just all came together. That’s why you rehearse. Michael didn’t just go on stage and say, Hey, I’m here. He put in the time to perfect his craft. We watched hours of Michael performances, so we could really see how precise and how perfect he was. Then we would go back to rehearsals. It encouraged us to do better.
What was the biggest lesson you learned making Michael?
Don’t be afraid to take risks. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A lot of times, especially if you’re doing something that’s new, you might be afraid. But everyone is learning and growing and feeding off of each other’s energy. Don’t be afraid to take those risks and to really give it your all. Working with veterans like Colman Domingo and Nia Long was so great, they were so open and helpful.
What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
That Michael was human. He’s larger than life. We’ll never see a talent like him ever again. But I’m really looking forward to people seeing the man off the stage. I hope this new generation really learns the origin story of Michael and his family and how hard they worked. Michael wasn’t just born the King of Pop. He worked at that.
How did you get into acting in Atlanta?
I was born and raised in Clayton County. It was very suburban, very welcoming. A lot of Southern hospitality. Where I grew up they offered fine arts in elementary, middle, and high school. I went to all three. Maybe from the age of five, I was really into music. I wanted to be a pop star. I wanted to be like Michael Jackson, Usher, and Chris Brown. Then, when I was nine I did my first play, which was Annie. Ever since then, I never looked back. I did a lot of musical theater.
Did you join any local theater groups?
It was only through school. Then once I graduated high school, I said, I need to do this professionally. I’d been doing it for such a long time. I would study performances. I would go to record stores and buy my own albums. I was so passionate about the arts. I decided that I wanted to make sacrifices and go through uncomfortable moments and pursue this career. So I took a leap of faith at 18. I already had an agency that I’d signed with before going to L.A., so I didn’t have to go through the whole process of trying to find one.
How has being from Atlanta shaped your creative voice?
It gave me the courage to just be fearless. And to be nice. I have that Southern hospitality in me. I’m very thankful that I have a good head on my shoulders. I credit that to being from Atlanta.
