Channel 4 Orders Doc Series on Michael Jackson Trial

Channel 4 has commissioned Wonderhood Studios to produce the four-part series The Trial of Michael Jackson (w.t.).

The series will feature contributors who have never spoken before to chart the story of Michael Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial alongside Jackson’s rise to fame and life in the spotlight. The series will forensically examine available archives to offer a deeper understanding of Jackson’s relationship with the media and life as lived in front of the cameras.

Anna Miralis, senior commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: “Made by a multi-award-winning production company, this remarkable series is destined to be compelling, insightful and truly remarkable. Many will remember the tumultuous media frenzy and the lasting effect it had on Jackson. The astonishing archive and accounts given by those featured will no doubt offer up a unique insight into this momentous trial and Jackson himself. “

Samantha Anstiss, chief creative officer at Wonderhood Studios, said: “ Michael Jackson’s mesmerizing performances and groundbreaking music have made him one of the world’s most enduring global icons whose music is still listened to by millions across the globe. But in 2005, he faced the most dramatic six months of his life as he stood accused of heinous crimes. Through the prism of the trial in which he was found not guilty, we explore his life, alongside themes of race, justice, money and fame, to tell this tragic tale.”

Tom Garton, director of development at Wonderhood Studios, said: “The 2005 criminal trial of Michael Jackson was unlike any other criminal trial in history. It was a trial, where the most famous man on the planet was in the dock. Now we have the opportunity to peel back the layers of the media circus around the trial and to explore Jackson’s complicated legacy in detail.”