Netflix has announced the release date for its upcoming documentary series “Michael Jackson: The Verdict“, a three-part examination of the 2005 criminal trial that continues to shape public debate around the singer’s legacy.
Directed by Nick Green (“Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny”), the series draws on testimony and recollections from figures involved in the courtroom proceedings to revisit the case against Michael Jackson, who was accused of molesting a minor at his Neverland Ranch in California. Jackson denied the allegations and was acquitted on all 10 charges at the conclusion of the trial.
Produced by Candle True Stories, the project is executive produced by Fiona Stourton, James Goldston and David Herman, with Herman also serving as showrunner. The series includes interviews with members of the original jury, offering new details on the deliberations that led to Jackson’s acquittal.
In a statement accompanying the documentary, the filmmakers said the series was intended to re-examine a trial that, despite continued public controversy two decades later, was never fully visible to audiences at the time because cameras were barred from the courtroom. They described the project as “a forensic look at the trial as a whole”, arguing that public understanding of the case had largely been “filtered by commentators and presented piecemeal”.
The release arrives amid renewed interest in Jackson’s life and career following the success of Michael, the recent biographical film directed by Antoine Fuqua. The film focuses primarily on Jackson’s early years and rise to global fame, while the Netflix series turns its attention to the later period of his life dominated by legal scrutiny and media attention.
Four weeks after its release, Michael has grossed more than $700m worldwide at the box office.
“Michael Jackson: The Verdict” is scheduled to debut on Netflix on June 3, 2026.
JOIN US ON SOCIALS
Subscribe to our mailing list
