New Michael Jackson TV film in the works after Joseph Fiennes’ controversial show dropped

The new film will see professional Jackston tribute star Navi take on the lead role
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Jennifer Ruby17 January 2017

A brand new Michael Jackson TV film is currently in the works after a Sky Arts show featuring Joseph Fiennes as the singer was scrapped.

Set to air on Lifetime, the forthcoming biopic will reportedly feature well-known Jackson tribute performer Navi in the lead role.

The new film, which will be called Michael Jackson: Searching For Neverland, is expected to tell the life story of the pop superstar through the eyes of his bodyguards.

News of the new project comes just a few days after Sky Arts pulled an episode of its new Urban Myths series, following a backlash over the casting of Caucasian British actor Fiennes as Jackson.

Offensive? Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson

After the trailer for the series was released, the singer’s daughter Paris Jackson tweeted that the portrayal was ‘shameful’.

“I'm so incredibly offended by it, as I’m sure plenty of people are as well, and it honestly makes me want to vomit,” she wrote.

Michael Jackson - In pictures

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“It angers me to see how obviously intentional it was for them to be this insulting, not just towards my father, but my godmother Liz as well.

“Where is the respect? They worked through blood sweat and tears for ages to create such profound and remarkable legacies. Shameful portrayal.”

Sky Arts later released a statement to say that they had made the decision to drop the episode.

“We have taken the decision not to broadcast Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon, a half-hour episode from the Sky Arts Urban Myths series, in light of the concerns expressed by Michael Jackson's immediate family,” it read.

“We set out to take a light-hearted look at reportedly true events and never intended to cause any offence. Joseph Fiennes fully supports our decision.”

Jackson’s daughter then tweeted to say: “I'm surprised the family's feelings were actually taken into consideration for once, we all really do appreciate it more than y'all know.”

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