HBO’s Leaving Neverland Documentary Secures Release Date

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

HBO's Michael Jackson documentary LEAVING NEVERLAND will make its premiere on March 3rd and 4th of 2019. A four hour long feature, the documentary detailing Michael Jackson's alleged molestation of two young boys will be split into two sections and aired a day apart. 

The documentary recently had its world premiere in the Special Events section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. While reviews from critics have been mostly favorable, the Jackson estate slammed LEAVING NEVERLAND in an open letter to HBO, writing that the film “violates all norms and ethics in documentary filmmaking and journalism”. Sure to be a controversial piece, the movie is already dividing audiences and drawing much attention from Jackon's myriad fans around the globe.

The two-part documentary LEAVING NEVERLAND explores the separate but parallel experiences of two young boys, James "Jimmy" Safechuck, a child actor from Simi Valley, California, and Wade Robson, an amateur child dancer from Brisbane, Australia. Both boys were befriended by Michael Jackson, and both claim to have developed an inappropriate relationship with the pop star at very young age. Through gut-wrenching interviews with Safechuck, now 37, and Robson, now 41, as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, LEAVING NEVERLAND crafts a portrait of sustained abuse, exploring the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their experiences after both had a young son of their own.

Many of James and Wade's most salient memories during this time involved visits to Jackson's Neverland Ranch, just north of Santa Barbara. Both men describe how the visits began to turn into overnight stays, isolation from their families, and eventually, sexual assault.

Produced and directed by Dan Reed (HBO's Emmy nominated THREE DAYS OF TERROR: THE CHARLIE HEBDO ATTACKS and TERROR AT THE MALL), the first part of LEAVING NEVERLAND debuts Sunday, March 3 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), followed by the second part the following night, Monday March 4 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. 

The documentary will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms.