Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch and its accompanying theme park came to life Friday as work continues on an upcoming film about the reclusive singer’s turbulent life and career.
Jackson was preparing for a lucrative series of shows at London’s O2 Arena when he died in a rented mansion in Los Angeles in 2009 as a result of cardiac arrest following an overdose of the surgical anesthetic Propofol.
In the years since his death at the age of 50, the pop icon has remained a relevant figure in pop culture, celebrated for the body of work he left behind, amid a legacy complicated by controversies, including accusations of child abuse.
His life will now be dramatized in the new biopic Michael, with Jackson’s own nephew Jaafar, an accomplished singer and dancer in his own right, set to play his late uncle.
Neverland, the Santa Barbara ranch originally purchased by Jackson in 1988, has now been rebuilt as filming continues ahead of the film’s scheduled April 18, 2025 release.
Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch has been brought back to life as work continues on an upcoming film about the reclusive singer’s troubled life and career (left), and the original Neverland Ranch in 2003, two years before it was sold (right) .
Jackson was preparing for a lucrative series of shows at London’s O2 Arena when he died in a rented mansion in Los Angeles in 2009 as a result of cardiac arrest following an overdose of the surgical anesthetic Propofol.
Photos of Ariel reveal that the fairground rides, tents and children’s trains he became known for have been carefully rebuilt, along with a Ferris wheel and a replica of Jackson’s carousel.
Additional photos show a recreation of its enormous red and white circus tent, as well as the red train that transported visitors through the park.
Billionaire Ron Burkle purchased Neverland from Jackson for $22 million in December 2020. Burkle served as a financial advisor to Michael Jackson after meeting him at an event for disadvantaged children in the mid-2000s.
He acquired the property for almost $80 million less than the asking price.
The ranch in California’s Santa Ynez Valley, once home to the King of Pop, was inspired by JM Barrie’s novel ‘Peter Pan’ and featured an amusement park and zoo.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal shortly after purchasing the property, Burkle explained that he wanted to give it a facelift, repair the train station, which had been damaged by woodpeckers, fix the roads and eventually get the train line train was running again.
“It was a somewhat depressing place. It was no longer the beautiful place it was before. “I just needed flowers and life again,” she said.
An overhead shot reveals that the property has been restored to its former glory for the new film.
The property in an aerial photograph taken in 2003 while the singer was fighting accusations of child sex.
Jaafar Jackson appears in the lead role in the upcoming film Michael (left), and the real Michael on stage in 1988 (right)
Ariel’s photos reveal that the fairground rides, tents and children’s trains that Neverland became known for have been carefully rebuilt, along with a Ferris wheel and a replica of Jackson’s carousel.
Burkle is said to be worth at least $2 billion and is a co-founder of venture capitalists Yucapia Companies, so he was not short of cash when it came to completely renovating the property.
The property had been on the market off and on since 2016.
It had fallen into disrepair after police raided the ranch and charged the King of Pop with seven counts of child abuse.
Although he was sensationally acquitted, Jackson vowed to never set foot in Neverland again.
According to a real estate listing, the original ranch features 21 structures including several guest houses and a movie theater that seats 50 people. There is also a pool with cabana, basketball court, and tennis court located among the grounds.
Jackson gave the property whimsical touches for his young fans to enjoy when they visited, but multiple alleged victims accused him of abusing them at the ranch.
Michael Jackson is seen holding hands with his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley as they walk with children at his Neverland Ranch, welcoming them during a three-day World Children’s Summit in 1995.
While filming continues, fans got a taste of what to expect during the recent Lionsgate presentation, a year before it hits theaters.
The preview did not disappoint, as it began with Jackson on stage as he performed some of his biggest hits, including Man in the Mirror and Thriller.
Variety reported that it will “feature more than 30” Jackson songs and recreate several of them, “starting with ABC’s classic Jackson 5 performance on American Bandstand.”
Nia Long, who plays late pop star Nia Long’s mother, tells her gifted son that he has “a very special light” and to “let that light shine into the world.”
“There may be some people who think you’re different, and that will make your life a little more difficult,” he warned. “But you were never like the others.”
During the performance, producer Graham King said he was “hoping to give the audience a thrill like they’ve never seen before.”
“It’s a story worthy of a cinematic presentation,” King said, before showing the trailer, according to Deadline. “For the first time, fans and generations of moviegoers will come together to get up close and personal with the most prolific artist who ever lived.”
He noted that he and the filmmakers did everything they could to “find the untold version of the story.”
“Michael Jackson was an enigma, full of eccentricities and…talent,” he said. ‘[He was also] simply a man who lived a very complicated life.
In addition to highlighting his extensive discography, it will follow Jackson’s “life on stage and his life out of the public eye.”
This includes his childhood in Gary, Indiana, to not being able to leave his house without being harassed by fans.
Variety also claimed that the film’s “abuse-driven” claims against Jackson, who faced multiple allegations of child sexual abuse.
King also announced that it would be “a feature film.”
King also announced that it would be “a feature film” (Jackson seen in 2000)