A new three-part Netflix series about the explosive 2005 Michael Jackson trial, “Michael Jackson: The Verdict,” is set to premiere on June 3. The docuseries covers the pop icon’s 2003 charges of child molestation, the resulting trial and the media circus that revolved around the courtroom proceedings. The doc features key individuals who were in the courtroom, including jurors, witnesses, accusers and defenders. The series explores the case against Jackson from both the prosecution and defense sides. Though Jackson was acquitted on all counts, interest in the iconic singer and his legal battles has continued long after his 2009 death.
Directed by Nick Green, the documentary is executive produced by Fiona Stourton. The filmmakers told Netflix’s Tudum that it “felt like the right time to revisit the trial and its lingering questions” and they “approached it as a historical account, presenting the facts as they unfolded in court.”
“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 told Tudum. “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.” “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.” The filmmakers also interviewed media figures who were covering the trial. “The aim was to take the audience inside the proceedings and only speak to eyewitnesses who played a part in those events,” the filmmakers said.
“Michael Jackson: The Verdict” is created by showrunner David Herman, who also executive produces alongside Stourton and James Goldston. The series is produced by Candle True Stories. Watch the trailer here: