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.
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 dramatizes Jackson in the final years of his life, told from the point of view of one of his bodyguards, Bill Whitfield.[1][2] At the time, Jackson was living in Las Vegas and he was trying to live a life as normal as possible, always prioritizing his children's safety.
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[a]
- 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
Additionally, an uncredited Jermaine Jackson appears through archive footage.
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.[3]
Reception
On its premiere airing, the film was watched by 2 million viewers.[4]
Spencer Kornhaber, a critic working for The Atlantic, wrote "They seem earnest in their avowals to do right by Jackson, and [it] is indeed a gentle portrayal... Searching for Neverland mourns the exploitation of him in his final years; its very existence also, necessarily, exploits his final years."[5] Michael Arceneaux, a critic working for The Root, wrote "While Jackson’s spirit may not be pleased with anyone telling his story without explicit permission—much less on basic cable—this flick was surprisingly not terrible."[6]
At the 10th Annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards, the film was nominated in the Television Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television section for the Best Contemporary Makeup and Best Contemporary Hair Styling categories, but it lost both to Big Little Lies.[7][8]
Notes
- Robinson Peete also portrayed Diana Ross in The Jacksons: An American Dream.
