Guide Note

Finding Neverland is a fictionalized story about author James Barrie, who is inspired by a family he befriends to write the classic children's play Peter Pan.

Fast Facts

1. Release date: November 12, 2004
2. Running time: 101 min
3. Starring: Johnny Depp Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Dustin Hoffman and Freddie Highmore
4. Based on: The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Alan Knee
5. Oscar nominations: Seven
6. Oscar wins: One (Best Original Score)
7. BAFTA nominations: Nine

While the film is based on Alan Knee's play The Man Who Was Peter Pan, the film makes sweeping changes to that story. Director Mark Forster noted in interviews that the film takes great liberties with historical events. In reality, Davies' husband did not die until ten years after Barrie met the family, and Barrie actually paid many of the medical bills following his death from cancer. Davies had five children, not four, and she died six years after the opening night of Peter Pan, not immediately after. Barrie's producer Charles Frohman thought Peter Pan would be a huge hit, and it was Barrie who was skeptical of success. Forster also joked that, since Barrie was only five foot two inches tall, they should have used digital technology to make actor Johnny Depp appear shorter.