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To this day, Michael Jackson’s artistry is celebrated around the world, but his personal life has been a divisive topic—and his 2005 trial is largely to blame.
Jackson, who is still seen as the King of Pop even 17 years after his death, was charged with multiple counts of child molestation but was acquitted on all counts. Despite that, his fans and critics still don’t see eye to eye on what really happened.
A new, three-part documentary coming to Netflix on June 3, titled Michael Jackson: The Verdict, aims to unveil more details from people who were inside the courtroom—jurors, eyewitnesses, accusers and defenders—on both the prosecution and the defense.
Its filmmakers, executive producers David Herman (showrunner) Fiona Stourton and James Goldston, say that they’re aiming to take the audience inside the proceedings.
“Anyone interested in the Michael Jackson story should feel this documentary gives them a window into what was largely a closed event and a chance to feel closer to what happened,” they tell Tudum.
Directed by Nick Green, the documentary is meant to present the facts as they unfolded in court, much like you might watch a doc about a historical event.
“It has been 20 years since the trial of Michael Jackson in which he was found not guilty. Yet, to this day, controversy still rages,” the filmmakers say. “No cameras were allowed in court, and so the public’s view of the facts at the time were filtered by commentators and presented piecemeal. It was time to take a forensic look at the trial as a whole.”
You can watch the trailer here:
The trailer, which calls the court case the “trial of the century,” shows old news footage, video inside his home, Neverland Ranch, and recreated scenes as well as filmed interviews with all the involved parties.
Interestingly, the documentary’s release on June 3, just two months after the premiere of the musical biopic, Michael, directed by Nick Green. Our own film reviewer Phil de Semlyen said it was “a soft-ball character study of the King of Pop.”
If you were disappointed and hoping to get more insight into Jackson’s court battle, this new documentary is your ticket.