Late legend Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, famously known for his iconic music and dance moves, apparently had a hidden passion for acting. Not many would know, but the pop star showcased his acting abilities in projects like The Wiz and Ghosts. However, despite having a few onscreen appearances, Jackson had a penchant for a particular role.
Fascinated by the popular children’s character Peter Pan, Micheal Jackson had a deep-rooted desire to play the character. Recalling Jackson’s passion for playing Peter Pan, theater director Trevor Nunn recalled how the man who owned his own Neverland approached him about playing the particular role in his theater project.
Michael Jackson Approached Trevor Nunn to Play Peter Pan
Alongside his world-renowned musical career, Michael Jackson was equally interested in pursuing an acting profession. Thus, appearing in a few feature films, the King of Pop gradually became fascinated with the children’s book character Peter Pan. Having no issues in flexing his acting muscles in front of the camera, Jackson held onto his unfulfilled dreams of playing Peter Pan, the mythical hero who never grew up.
Surprisingly, back in 1987, Michael Jackson had once come inches close to playing Peter Pan, after his encounter with theater director Trevor Nunn. Speaking with The Sunday Times, Nunn recalled how he was contacted by a man claiming to represent Michael Jackson, to seek advice for a stage tour. Although he initially suspected it to be a hoax, Nunn later came across the legend himself.
He said he wanted to be able to fly over the audience and I said, ‘That’s not a problem. There’s no difficulty, I had people flying over the audience when I did Peter Pan.’ It was like I had pressed a button that would give him an electric shock – everything changed.
Revealing how Michael Jackson wanted to be able to fly over the audiences during his stage performances, Trevor Nunn noted being approached by the pop star. However, as their conversation hit the point where Nunn spoke of Peter Pan, the director recalled a shift in the atmosphere. Jackson was apparently thrilled and spiraled out of control after realizing that Nunn developed his own Peter Pan project.
Michael Jackson’s Emotional Plea to the Theater Director
Although Michael Jackson had approached Trevor Nunn for his stage tour, considering his experience with stage directing, Nunn revealed how quickly things shifted from the original conversation to Jackson’s fascination with Peter Pan. Right after the pop star learned about Nunn’s theater show about Peter Pan, Jackson invested all of his energy in trying to be cast in the play.
Willing to appear in front of a live audience to flaunt his acting skills, Michael Jackson shifted the conversation from his stage tour to literally begging for an opportunity to appear in Trevor Nunn’s Peter Pan. The theater director recalled being taken aback by Jackson’s sincerity and passion, as the pop star began crying and begging for the role.
He sat bolt upright and the excitement was just overwhelming, he jumped up, he walked around the room, he kept repeating, ‘Peter Pan, oh my god, Peter Pan,’
I explained we had done the show in London using adult actors to play the children and suddenly his eyes were brimful with tears and he came across the room and he knelt down in front of me and he grabbed my knees and he said, ‘Could I play Peter Pan? Is it too late for me to play Peter Pan?’
However, despite Michael Jackson’s desire to Play Peter Pan and having a heartfelt conversation with Trevor Nunn, the King of Pop didn’t land the opportunity. According to Nunn, he tried calling the singer for the stage tour as well as to discuss if he could cast Jackson in Peter Pan. But Jackson’s reps were none too pleased with the singer getting caught up in childish fantasies.
![Michael Jackson performs at a concert in Monza, Italy in 1992 [Credit: Daniele Dalledonne]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/24051708/Michael-Jackson-performs-at-a-concert-in-Monza-Italy-in-1992-Credit-Daniele-Dalledonne.jpeg)
However many times I called, I never got through to Michael again and I couldn’t entirely rid myself of the idea that people in the organization were under instruction, very politely, to keep me away.
Despite his passion for acting, Michael Jackson’s music career took center stage while his acting skills took the back seat. The King of Pop’s dreams of playing Peter Pan thus remained unfulfilled.
