Trailer for Netflix's MICHAEL JACKSON: THE VERDICT Revisits the Explosive Trial That Shocked the World
Netflix is diving back into one of the most controversial chapters in pop culture history with Michael Jackson: The Verdict, a new three-part docuseries that premieres on June 3.
Along with the release date announcement, the streamer also unveiled the first trailer, teasing a courtroom-focused deep dive into the 2005 criminal trial that put the King of Pop under an intense global spotlight.
Directed by Nick Green, the series examines the Michael Jackson trial through the eyes of people who were actually inside the courtroom during the proceedings. The project comes from Candle True Stories and was executive produced by David Herman, who also serves as showrunner.
The trailer sets the tone for the series with one participant saying, “He’s the most famous man in the world being accused of the most heinous crime in the world.”
The 2005 case centered on allegations that Jackson molested an underage boy at his Neverland Ranch estate in California. Another figure featured in the trailer doesn’t hold back, saying, “We believe he was a criminal and he was able to get away with it because of his fame and celebrity.”
Jackson was eventually found not guilty on all 10 counts, and the docuseries promises to spend significant time examining how the jury reached that decision. Several jurors involved in the case will appear in the series to offer firsthand insight into the deliberations and what ultimately led to the verdict.
The timing of the series is especially interesting as public fascination with Jackson’s life has ramped up again thanks to the massive success of Michael, the recent biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua.
That film focused primarily on Jackson’s childhood, rise to superstardom, and career dominance rather than the darker controversies that followed later in his life.
The movie has become a huge global hit, pulling in more than $700 million worldwide after four weeks in theaters, proving there’s still enormous interest surrounding Jackson’s legacy and the debates tied to it.
With courtroom testimony, juror accounts, and sharply divided perspectives surrounding one of the most talked-about celebrity trials ever, Michael Jackson: The Verdict looks like it’s going to spark plenty of conversation when it lands on Netflix this summer.