Two decades after Michael Jackson was acquitted in one of the most watched celebrity trials in history, a new docuseries ‘Michael Jackson: The Verdict’ will revisit the explosive court battle that captivated the world.
Michael Jackson: The Verdict trailer
The trailer for the three-part series debuted online Thursday, giving viewers an inside look at the 2005 trial that ended in the singer’s acquittal. The trailer shows a rather bleak picture as it goes through the accounts of jurors, witnesses, prosecutors, defense attorneys and journalists.
Director Nick Green in the documentary
The Nick Green-directed series aims to re-examine the case from both the prosecution and defense perspectives, offering what the filmmakers describe as a “forensic look” at the trial. Speaking to Netflix’s Tudum, the filmmaker said: “It’s been 20 years since Michael Jackson was found not guilty in his trial. Yet to this day, the controversy still rages.”“No cameras were allowed in court, so the commentators’ view of the events at the time was filtered and presented piecemeal. It was time to take a forensic look at the entire trial. Anyone interested in the Michael Jackson story should feel that this docuseries gives them a window into what was a largely closed event and an opportunity to get a closer look at the event,” the statement concluded.
Docu focus allegations of child abuse
According to the report, the series includes new interviews with jurors and people directly involved in the case, along with media personalities who witnessed the courtroom drama live. Explaining the reason behind it, the filmmaker said, “The aim was to bring the public inside the proceedings and talk only to the witnesses who were involved in those events.”In 2003, Jackson, the King of Pop and one of the world’s biggest stars, was accused of child abuse. The allegations led to an intense media frenzy and a trial that attracted worldwide attention. His acquittal of all charges in 2005 only increased public fascination with the singer, a fascination that continued long after his death in 2009.
‘Michael’ box office collection
The docuseries comes in the midst of the box office success of the biopic ‘Michael’ starring Jaafar Jackson. The film grossed $710 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2026 and the fourth-highest-grossing biopic of all time. While the film skipped over the darker chapters of the singer’s controversial life, this documentary sheds light on the cultural impact of the trial.
Michael Jackson: Judgment Release Date
‘Michael Jackson: The Verdict’ opens on June 3.
