Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland
2017 American biographical TV film
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Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland is a 2017 American biographical television film directed by Dianne Houston, based on the 2014 book, Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days, written by Michael Jackson's personal bodyguards Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard. The film dramatizes Jackson in the final years of his life.[1][2]
by Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard
| Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland | |
|---|---|
| |
| Genre | biographical film |
| Based on | Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days by Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard |
| Written by | Elizabeth Hunter |
| Directed by | Dianne Houston |
| Starring | Chad L. Coleman Sam Adegoke Nondumiso Temble Starletta DuPois Richard Lawson Holly Robinson Peete Navi |
| Composer | Zach Ryan |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Suzanne De Passe |
| Producers | Kyle A. Clerk Lina Wong |
| Cinematography | Tommy Maddox-Upshaw |
| Editor | Craig Hayes |
| Production companies | Lifetime Silver Screen Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | Lifetime |
| Release | May 30, 2017 |
Synopsis
The film is told from the point of view of one of Michael Jackson's bodyguards, Bill Whitfield. In December 2006, Jackson returns from Bahrain and is now living in a Las Vegas mansion. He doesn't want to return to Neverland after a police raid from years earlier and instead plans to purchase a multi-million-dollar estate in Las Vegas he called Wonderland.[3] With Jackson in serious debt, he agrees to do a residency just like Celine Dion.
Whitfield says Jackson "hadn't worked in years. He spent tons of money on lawsuits, legal fees, shopping, and family. Money was his issue." Whitfield and fellow bodyguard Javon Beard haven't been paid in months. Shortly before signing with AEG for his This Is It residency in London, Jackson hires Nation of Islam bodyguards for his protection. He then begins rehearsing in Los Angeles for his London residency.
Cast
- Chad L. Coleman as Bill Whitfield
- Sam Adegoke as Javon Beard
- Nondumiso Temble as Grace Rwaramba
- Starletta DuPois as Katherine Jackson
- Richard Lawson as Joe Jackson
- Aidan Hanlon Smith as Prince Jackson
- Taegen Burns as Paris Jackson
- Michael Mourra as Blanket Jackson
- Holly Robinson Peete as Raymone Bain
- Navi as Michael Jackson
- Isabella Hofmann as Green
- Vincent M. Ward as Jeff Adams
- Ken Colquitt as Conrad Murray
- Kristofer Gordon as Randy Jackson
- Mykel Shannon Jenkins as Michael Amir Williams
- Tasia Sherel as Auntie Gloria
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 by Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard. Production was scheduled to begin in February in Los Angeles.[4]
Reception
On its premiere airing, the film was watched by 2 million viewers.[5]
