Add Michael Jackson to the list of artists to have their lives portrayed on the Lifetime channel.
Lifetime has revealed they are creating a biopic that will chronicle the final years of Jackson’s life. Tentatively titled, Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland, the film will be told from the perspective of Jackson’s bodyguard Bill Whitfield. Whitfield is also the author of the 2014 book Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days, Searching for Neverland.
The “King Of Pop” will be played by Navi, a man who has spent years branding himself as the “The World’s #1 Michael Jackson Impersonator.” The UK-based performer also has bragging rights as being the only Jackson impersonator who has been invited to Neverland and applauded by MJ himself.
Whitfield will be portrayed by Chad L. Coleman aka “Cutty” from The Wire.
Longtime Jackson associate Suzanne de Passe, who worked with the Jackson 5 in their Motown days as a creative assistant Berry Gordy, will be the movie’s executive director.
Lifetime documentaries are usually the crown jewel of Black twitter discussions when they air. Biopics on Aaliyah, Whitney Houston and Michel’le have been highly criticized in the past for their questionable castings and storylines.
The announcement of this film also comes after footage the literal and actual cancellation of an Urban Myths episode where Jackson was set to be portrayed by a White actor that looked nothing like him. The pending episode was dragged on Twitter and eventually put to death after Jackson’s daughter Paris blasted the show.
Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland begins shooting in February and is expected to air by the end of the year.
Photo: WENN.com
