TCA 2019: HBO to Premiere ‘Leaving Neverland’ March 3

HBO will premiere the documentary film Leaving Neverland on March 3, the network announced during its Television Critics Association winter press tour session Friday.

The four-hour documentary, which tells the story of two men who claim they were abused by pop star Michael Jackson as children, will debut as a two-part special, with part one debuting March 3 and the finale premiering on March 4, said the network.

The controversial film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival last month. The estate of Michael Jackson has bashed the documentary as “tabloid character assassination.” 

The network also announced it will premiere this Spring Running With Beto, a behind-the-scenes documentary that follows Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke's rise from virtual unknown to national political sensation.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.