(Michael
Jackson & Wade Robson)
Breaking news: M-Net 101 brings controversial
documentary Leaving Neverland to
Southern African screens this weekend
M-Net has acquired the rights to broadcast
the much-debated two-part documentary Leaving
Neverland, and DStv customers across Southern Africa don’t have to wait
long to see why this Channel 4 and HBO co-production has taken the world by
storm. Just over a week after its controversial premiere in the US at the
recent Sundance Film Festival, Leaving
Neverland will be screened across two days on M-Net 101 this coming
weekend.
Part one will be on M-Net channel 101 on
DStv tonight (Friday March 15, 2019, at 21h00), while part 2 will follow
tomorrow (Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 21h00).
Directed and produced by five-time
BAFTA-winner Dan Reed, the four-hour long Leaving
Neverland unpacks the story of two individuals: James Safechuck and Wade
Robson, now-adult men in their 30s, who befriended Jackson at the ages of ten
and seven respectively. Through gut-wrenching interviews with Safechuck and
Robson, as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, Leaving Neverland crafts a portrait of sustained abuse, and
explores the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their
experiences after both had a young son of their own. Playing out against the
backdrop of our collective experience, the film documents the value of breaking
silence, even when it implicates a powerful and revered figure.
“Bringing Leaving Neverland to Southern African screens is testament to the
fact that M-Net brings the most compelling content to the continent as quickly
as possible,” says M-Net’s Head of Publicity, Lani Lombard. “Please note,
however, that documentary is not suitable for younger viewers as it contains
strong language, discussions of self-harm and graphic descriptions of child
sexual abuse.”
Among the line-up of channels which have
already acquired the documentary are Network Ten Australia, DR Denmark, VPRO
Netherlands, SVT Sweden, ProSieben Germany, Channel One Russia, VRT Belgium,
NRK Norway, TVNZ New Zealand, Discovery Italy, DBS Israel, Amedia Russia, YLE
Finland, Fox Asia, Front Row Middle East, RUV Iceland, M6 France, HBO Latin
America, HBO Portugal and Movistar + in Spain and HBO CEE. Additionally, there are a considerable number
of deals which are currently in the final stages of negotiation.
To accommodate these screenings, M-Net will
schedule double episodes of the popular reality show America’s Got Talent: Champions at 18h00 and 19h00, the season finale
of A Million Little Things will now
air an hour earlier at 20h00, on Friday March 15. Then, on Saturday March 16 an
episode of Sky 1’s Carnage season 1
will be scheduled at 17h30, The Kids are
Alright at 18h30, American Housewife
at 19h00, Murphy Brown at 19h30, Riverdale at 20h00 and the Saturday
night movie Death Wish has been
replaced by part two of Leaving
Neverland.
Follow the conversation on Twitter @MNet
(#MNet101 #LeavingNeverland)
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