Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland
{{short description|2017 television film directed by Dianne Houston}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Michael Jackson Searching for Neverland.jpeg
| image_alt = The promotional poster for the film
| genre = Biopic
| based_on = {{Based on|Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days|Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard}}
| director = Dianne Houston
| writer = Elizabeth Hunter
| presenter =
| starring = Navi
Chad L. Coleman
Sam Adegoke
Aiden Hanlon Smith
Taegen Burns
| country = United States
| producer = Kyle A. Clerk
Lina Wong
| executive_producer = Suzanne De Passe
| composer = Zach Ryan
| editor = Craig Hayes
| cinematography = Tommy Maddox-Upshaw
| company = Lifetime
Silver Screen Pictures
| channel = Lifetime
| released = {{Start date|2017|05|30}}
}}
Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland is a 2017 American biographical television film based on the 2014 book, Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days, written by Jackson's personal bodyguards Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard. The film dramatizes Jackson in the final years of his life.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/watch-first-trailer-for-lifetimes-michael-jackson-biopic-w482386|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|title=Watch First Trailer for Lifetime's Michael Jackson Biopic 'Searching for Neverland'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 15, 2017|access-date=June 1, 2017}}{{cite magazine|last=Sands|first=Nicole|url=http://people.com/music/michael-jackson-searching-for-neverland-lifetime-clip/|title=Watch the King of Pop Teach His Kids to Dance in New Clip for Lifetime Biopic Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland|magazine=People|date=April 28, 2017|access-date=June 1, 2017}} It takes place after the events of the 2004 film, Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story.
Synopsis
The film is told from the point of view of one of Michael Jackson's bodyguards Bill Whitfield (portrayed by Chad Coleman). It begins in December 2006 when Jackson returns from Bahrain and is now living in a Las Vegas mansion. He doesn't want to return to Neverland after the police raid from years earlier and instead plans to purchase a multi-million-dollar estate in Las Vegas he called “Wonderland.”{{cite web |title=Michael Jackson planned to buy 'Wonderland' estate in Vegas|date=15 October 2009|url=https://www.chron.com/homes/article/Michael-Jackson-planned-to-buy-Wonderland-1724799.php}} With Jackson in serious debt, he agrees to do a residency just like Celine Dion.
Bill Whitfield says, "He [Jackson] hadn't worked in years. He spent tons of money on lawsuits, legal fees, shopping, and family. Money was his issue." The two bodyguards haven't been paid in months. Shortly before signing with AEG for his residency in London, Jackson hires Nation of Islam bodyguards for his protection. He then begins rehearsing in Los Angeles for his London residency.
Cast
- Navi as Michael Jackson
- Chad L. Coleman as Bill Whitfield
- Sam Adegoke as Javon Beard
- Aidan Hanlon Smith as Prince Jackson
- Taegen Burns as Paris Jackson
- Michael Mourra as Blanket Jackson
- Richard Lawson as Joe Jackson
- Starletta DuPois as Katherine Jackson
- Kristofer Gordon as Randy Jackson
- Isabella Hofmann as Green
- Nondumiso Temble as Grace Rwaramba
- Ken Colquitt as Conrad Murray
- Holly Robinson Peete as Raymone Bain
Development
On January 13, 2017, Lifetime announced that it had ordered a television biopic of Michael Jackson, which would be based on the book Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days. Production was scheduled to begin in February in Los Angeles.{{cite news|last=Stanhope|first=Kate|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/michael-jackson-lifetime-movie-964135|title=Michael Jackson Film Ordered at Lifetime|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 13, 2017|access-date=June 1, 2017}}
Reception
On its premiere airing, the film was watched by 2 million viewers.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/michael-jackson-searching-for-neverland-draws-2-million-viewers-1202104503/|last=Petski|first=Denise|title='Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland' Draws 2 Million Viewers In Live+SD|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 30, 2017|access-date=June 1, 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|6428912}}
{{Michael Jackson}}
Category:2017 television films
Category:2017 documentary films
Category:American biographical films
Category:American documentary television films
Category:Biographical films about Michael Jackson
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