After Lifetime greenlit a Micha...son biopic, perhaps the most important step was casting a convincing actor to portray the pop icon.

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So who better to step into MJ’s shoes than a man who spent years as a Jackson-sanctioned impersonator.

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Navi, who worked for Jackson on multiple occasions as a body double and decoy during the King of Pop’s lengthy career, stars in the upcoming Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland — and PEOPLE has an exclusive first-look image from the TV movie in the current issue of the magazine, on newsstands Friday.

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Searching for Neverland will chronicle the final years of Jackson’s life, including his time as a father to sons Prince and Blanket and daughter Paris.

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Lifetime’s production is not associated with the controversial episode of British network Sky Arts’ upcoming TV anthology series, which was to feature Joseph Finnes as Jackson but was cancelled in January.