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.
