Michael Jackson's infamous Neverland theme park has been restored amid his biopic's filming.
Multiple news outlets, including the Daily Mail and TMZ, unveiled photos of Neverland as the Michael team started gearing up for the biopic's release. The King of Pop's nephew, Jaafar, was tapped to play his role.
What to Know About Michael Jackson's Neverland Theme Park
Arial photos of the theme park showed the place's colorful tents, rides and a Ferris wheel.
In December 2020, Ron Burkle bought Neverland for $22 million. He told the Wall Street Journal what he planned to do to the place after acquiring it.
"It was kind of a depressing place. It wasn't the beautiful place that it was before. It just needed flowers and life in it again," he said.
The place was named after Jackson's favorite character, Peter Pan. But in 2003, a search warrant led the authorities to search the ranch amid the trial when the "Smooth Criminal" singer was charged with multiple counts of molesting a minor.
What to Expect From 'Michael'?
The Antoine Fuqua-directed musical biopic is set to be released in theaters on April 18, 2025. During the CinemaCon 2024, a year before its arrival on big screens, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson called Michael a "simple man" with a "very complicated life." He added that the plot would delve into the musician's private life.
Michael producer Graham King also told the crowd, "When you consider Michael Jackson's extraordinary life, his career triumphs, personal challenges, his artistry, musical legacy, his story is certainly one that's worthy of a cinematic event presentation. When you mention his name, everyone has an opinion... Generations of moviegoers will come together to experience an inside look into one of the most prolific artists that ever lived."
The latest photos from the set, which went viral in February, showed Jafaar resembling his late uncle by wearing similar outfits Michael used to wear. He also donned Michael's iconic costumes in some of the earliest scenes for the film.
Amid the excitement, some expressed their worries as critics predicted it might paint Jackson as someone far from what his alleged victims knew. Others also accused the biopic of glorifying the "Thriller" singer.
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