Lifetime debuted their new Michael Jackson biopic Monday night. The film, Searching for Neverland, is based on a 2014 book penned by Jackson's bodyguards Javon Beard and Bill Whitfield. Well-known Michael Jackson impersonator Navi plays the title role.
"I met Michael several times, I worked for him on several occasions," Navi, who previously worked as an MJ "decoy," toldE! News of his performing experience. During the shoot, Navi spent nearly four hours in hair and makeup each day.
"I performed at his birthday parties in New York and Los Angeles, went to Neverland, so I met him on many occasions, good and bad," Navi recalled. Jackson, Navi added, was always "very encouraging" whenever they crossed paths.
Despite the work that went into Searching for Neverland's production, fans on Twitter quickly decided it was all for naught.
Last June, Deadlinereported that J.J. Abrams had joined Warner Bros. TV's adaptation of Tavis Smiley's forthcoming book Before You Judge Me: The Triumph and Tragedy of Michael Jackson's Last Days as an executive producer. Hopefully, that series will get a better response.
