Fans of late pop icon Michael Jackson have made no secret of their disapproval of Lifetime’s forthcoming unauthorized biopic chronicling the singer’s last two years of life.
Titled ‘Searching for Neverland,’ the film – based on the book “Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days” – also earned a royal thumbs down from the King of Pop’s estate, as revealed in a recently released statement. Taking to press, a rep for the Jackson family stated:
“To clear up any confusion or misperceptions about unsanctioned Michael Jackson projects currently in the news — including a Lifetime television movie and an animated film script recently purchased by Netflix — the Estate of Michael Jackson does not license or permit the use of any rights it owns, including to Michael’s music, images, video and films, for use in unauthorized works seeking to exploit Michael’s legacy.”
Despite the backlash, Lifetime is set to move forward with the airing of the flick (starring longtime MJ impersonator Navi). When quizzed on his thoughts on the furor around the biopic, Navi said:
“Is it important to me? Of course, because I wouldn’t like to hear that someone didn’t support the project,” he said. “But I didn’t do this project from a business point of view. I do this project from my heart, from a Michael Jackson fan’s point of view. So it doesn’t matter which company and businesses and associates, whatever, do or don’t support us. Fans want it told.”
I guess we’ll be the judge when it airs tonight at 8/7c only on Lifetime.
![Movie Trailer: Lifetime's 'The Holiday Proposal Plan' [Starring Tatyana Ali]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-holiday-2023-proposal-plan-lifetime-tatyana-ali-trailer-thatgrapejuice-464x260.jpg "Movie Trailer: Lifetime's 'The Holiday Proposal Plan' [Starring Tatyana Ali].")
![New Video: Rick Ross - 'Champagne Moments' [Drake Diss]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rick-Ross-Champagne-Moments-thatgrapejuice-2024-drake-diss-464x260.jpg "New Video: Rick Ross - 'Champagne Moments' [Drake Diss].")
They need a heavy hitter like a Hype Williams or a Spike Lee or someone like that to produce an authentic Michael Jackson film.
It’s hard to do it without the family cooperating. The problem with all Lifetime movies about music artists is that Lifetime does not get permission to use the artist’s music and that is crucial for a theater film. I have not seen this one yet but I would imagine Lifetime did not get permission to use the music since the family was complaining before it aired. The other problem I have with all of Lifetime biopics is that they make the people one-dimensional. As humans, we are not one-dimensional. There are many sides to someone like Michael Jackson and his bodyguards would not have known what he did privately day-to-day…they would have only seen private tidbits here and there so using their book for a movie would render a one-dimensional character…ie…Michael Jackson through the tidbits two bodyguards saw but not a complete depiction of Michael Jackson the man and Michael Jackson the legendary musician (singer, dancer, songwriter, choreographer, etc).
Mmmm why does Michael have a British accent…and his voice is considerably lower…
And…he’s left handed. I’m happy the 2 body guards finally got their story told. The English accent is ..well..different. Anything mj is nice