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On the same day that a Michael Jackson-centric episode of Urban Myths was pulled from broadcast over its controversial casting, Lifetime revealed that the network is prepping their own biopic revolving around the King of Pop.

Tentatively titled Searching for Neverland, the Lifetime movie captures Jackson's final years through the perspective of two of his personal bodyguards, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard.

Navi, the self-proclaimed "world's greatest Michael Jackson impersonator," will make his acting debut portraying the late singer in the Lifetime biopic, and The Walking Dead vet Chad L. Coleman will portray Whitfield,...

Just because a show has been filmed and edited doesn't mean it gets to see the light of day. Earlier this week, fans and family members of Michael Jackson voiced their outrage over Joseph Fiennes' upcoming episode of Urban Myths centered around the King of Pop. A petition to boycott the episode was launched and drew more than 20,000 signatures. In addition, Paris Jackson, Taj Jackson and others close to the performer expressed their disgust at the pictures of Joseph playing the "Beat It" singer. As it turns out, the big wigs heard the concerns loud and clear and decided to take action before it was too late. "We have taken the decision not to broadcast Elizabeth, Michael and...

Urban Myths is ending the road trip before it's even begun. Deadline reports Sky has decided not to air a controversial episode of the series featuring Michael Jackson.The episode of the UK show, titled "Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon," was to center on "Michael Jackson taking a road trip from New York to Los Angeles with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando following the 9/11 terror attacks." Joseph Fiennes plays Jackson alongside Stockard Channing as Taylor and Brian Cox as Brando.Read More…...

We’re guessing that this falls into the category of “good surprise” for Paris Jackson. Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, logged onto Twitter on Friday to express gratitude that Sky Arts had decided not to air an episode of the upcoming series “Urban Myths” featuring actor Joseph Fiennes portraying her father. She also acknowledged that she didn’t think it would happen. Also Read: Sky Yanks Michael Jackson 'Urban Myths' Episode Starring Joseph Fiennes “I’m surprised the family’s feelings were actually taken into consideration for once,” Jackson wrote. “We all really do appreciate it more than y’all know.

Last year, much to everyone’s shock and distaste, it was announced that Joseph Fiennes would play Michael Jackson in the forthcoming anthology series Urban Myths. The actor stars as Jackson opposite Stockard Channing’s Elizabeth Taylor and Brian Cox’s Marlon Brando, as they recount the urban legend of their road trip together just after the tragedy of 9/11. As you can imagine, the first look was not met warmly, and UK channel Sky Arts, who’ll air the series, has now pulled the upcoming episode from their schedule following concerns from Jackson’s family.

The decision not to release the controversial episode, titled “Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon,” came after the late musician’s daughter, Paris Jackson, Tweeted her dissatisfaction with the decision, along with general outrage from the public at large.

In a statement released to Billboard on the matter, Sky Arts said:

We have taken the decision not to broadcast “Elizabeth,...

Michael Jackson's family couldn’t be happier to protect his legacy.

The iconic singer's daughter, Paris Jackson, took to Twitter on Friday express her gratitude after Sky Arts announced its decision to pull its controversial Urban Myths episode, "Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon."

Watch: Paris Jackson Responds to Joseph Fiennes' 'Shameful' Portrayal of Her Late Father Michael Jackson

"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," the 18-year-old tweeted in response to the news.

Watch: 'Urban Myths' Episode Featuring Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson Is Cut Following Backlash

"It's a huge victory. Casting Fiennes made no sense. It was insensitive and wrong," Mj's nephew, T.J. Jackson, said in a statement to Et. "I hope all production companies long into the future take notice and respect who my uncle was. A proud black man who suffered from the skin disease vitiligo...

Paris Jackson, the 18-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson, said she was “surprised” but happy with Sky Arts’ decision to cancel the upcoming episode of anthology series Urban Myths: A Brand New Collection of TV Comedies that featured white actor Joseph Fiennes as the late pop icon.

“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,” Paris wrote on Twitter, Friday, in response to a user’s tweet about the decision.

Other members of the large Jackson family spoke out about the episode being pulled,...

Just a few days ago, Sky Arts served up the first trailer for Urban Myths, a comedy series dramatizing legends about famous people. While the show features lots of interesting casting, including Ramsay Bolton from Game of Thrones as Hitler and Eddie Marsan as Bob Dylan, the one that got the most attention was Joseph Fiennes as Michael […]

The post ‘Urban Myths’ Pulls Controversial Michael Jackson Episode, But Why Did It Even Get This Far to Begin With? appeared first on /Film.

Hours after Sky Arts announced it would not air the controversial Michael Jackson episode of the British series Urban Myths, Lifetime has announced Jackson-related project of its own.

The network announced via press release on Friday that a Michael Jackson TV movie is currently in pre-production. The movie, working title Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland, is based on the best-selling book, Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days, and will begin filming in Los Angeles in February.

Watch: 'Urban Myths' Episode Featuring Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson Is Cut Following Backlash

Searching for Neverland will tell the story of Jackson's final days through the eyes of his trusted bodyguards, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard. The Walking Dead's Chad L. Coleman has been cast as Whitfield, while Michael Jackson tribute artist Navi will play the King of Pop, in his acting debut.

Suzanne de Passe, Madison Jones and [link...

No surprise here: Michael Jackson's daughter and nephew, Paris Jackson and Taj Jackson, are pleased that an episode of Urban Myths that stars Joseph Fiennes as the late King of Pop will not air after all. The British channel SKy Arts made the cancellation announcement Friday, saying the decision was made "in light of the concerns expressed by Michael Jackson's immediate family." Paris, Taj had voiced criticism after pictures of Fiennes in a scene from the project surfaced earlier this week. Fans had set up a petition titled "Boycott Film With White Actor Cast as Michael Jackson!" to boycott the film. "I'm surprised the...

Lifetime has a TV movie in preproduction about Michael Jackson’s final days, the cable channel revealed on Friday. Based on the book “Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days” — which is told through the eyes of the pop star’s top bodyguards, Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard — the working-titled “Searching for Neverland” will begin filming next month in Los Angeles. Navi, who is credit as the world’s No. 1 Michael Jackson tribute artist, will make his acting debut as the moonwalker. Chad L. Coleman (“The Walking Dead”) will play Whitfield. Also Read: Sky Yanks Michael Jackson 'Urban Myths'.

The supposedly comedic miniseries Urban Myths has canceled its episode centering on Michael Jackson because of the outrage caused by casting Joseph Fiennes to play the King of Pop. Sky Arts Cancels Michael Jackson Episode After Backlash The film was the story of a post-9/11 road trip with Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor (Stockard Channing) and Marlon Brando (Brian Cox). […]

Source: uInterview

The post ‘Urban Myths’ Michael Jackson Episode Canceled Amid Casting Controversy appeared first on uInterview.

The controversial episode about Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor of the British series Urban Myths has officially been cut, a spokesperson for Sky confirmed on Friday.

Watch: Paris Jackson Responds to Joseph Fiennes' 'Shameful' Portrayal of Her Late Father Michael Jackson

“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,” Sky’s statement 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.”

Fiennes was previously cast to play the late iconic singer, which sparked much backlash online. The first footage from the episode was released this week, which prompted Michael’s daughter, Paris Jackson, to speak out against the series’ portrayal of her late father.

"I'm so incredibly offended by it, as I'm sure...