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With exclusive new footage, unheard audio tapes of Michael Jackson and insiders from Jackson’s entourage and the police, this series delivers new revelations about the 2005 trial of Michael Jackson.
Stephen Driscoll, executive VP at All3Media International, distributor of Michael Jackson: The Trial, joins Tom Anstiss, creative partners at Wonderhood Studios, and exec producer Tom Garton to discuss this revelatory new documentary.
Show: Michael Jackson: The Trial
Runtime: 4×60’
Producer: Wonderhood Studios
What makes this series unique?
Stephen Driscoll: It’s been 20 years since Michael Jackson’s landmark trial, and it still remains firmly embedded in a global cultural consciousness. Wonderhood’s documentary delves into the inner landscape of the trial, delivering unprecedented access to a number of figures at the center of it, some who have never spoken before.
Tom Anstiss: All our contributors deliver compelling, new revelations and insights. The series hears from Jackson’s inner circle who tried to protect him, the police officers who investigated the allegations of child abuse and the lawyers who prosecuted and defended him.
Driscoll: Additionally, audiences can expect access to never-before-heard tapes from Jackson, as well as exclusive footage from Jackson’s former personal videographers.
Tom Garton: We secured incredible unseen archive and unheard audio tapes for our series – and this archive forms the bedrock of the documentary. The audio in particular gives us an unprecedented insight into Michael Jackson’s mind at this time, from Michael’s reflections on his love of innocence and children to his memories of physical abuse at the hands of his father.
Driscoll: Where audiences are so often used to seeing this topic sensationalised on screen, the testimonies from these figures as well as new archive and audio result in a balanced take on a proactive and emotional subject.
Ultimately, Wonderhood Studio’s high-quality narrative storytelling and premium creative direction mean the series goes beyond Jackson’s trial to capture a deeper understanding of this global icon whilst delving into questions about fame, race, and the American justice system.
What are the auspices for the show?
Driscoll: Michael Jackson: The Trial comes from award-winning Wonderhood Studios, led by creative partners Samantha and Tom Anstiss, the team behind standout titles including My Grandparents’ War, The Man Who Definitely Did Not Steal Hollywood and Evacuation. Executive producer Tom Garton continues his run of premium factual storytelling, following acclaimed projects such as Devil’s Advocate: The Mostly True Story of Giovanni Di Stefano (Sky Documentaries), Dodi: Last Days of a Playboy (Paramount+) and Scouting for Girls: Fashion’s Darkest Secret.
Do you have deals in place with channels or platforms around the world?
Driscoll: We have. Our first international presale was ZDF in Germany and as we approach launch we have multiple deals in negotiation across EMEA, APAC and the Americas.
Where would the show ideally sit across markets, channels and platforms?
Driscoll: Few figures are as globally resonant as Michael Jackson and few moments have left as deep a mark on the cultural landscape as Michael Jackson’s trial. With this in mind, the documentary’s new revelations, first-time interviewees and exclusive footage have generated strong demand from buyers across all market sectors.
What else is important to mention in terms of the show?
Anstiss: Despite his death nearly 17 years ago, Michael Jackson remains one of the most popular yet enigmatic stars in the world. The trailer for Jackson’s upcoming biopic was reportedly the most watched music biopic trailer just four days after its release and his groundbreaking music is still listened to by millions all over the world. Michael Jackson’s cultural impact and music stills transcends generations.
In June 2005, a jury found Jackson not guilty of all charges of child molestation against Gavin Arvizo. But the controversy about Michael Jackson’s life and legacy lives on, after Wade Robson and James Safechuck claimed in a Channel 4 documentary in 2019 that they had been systemically sexually abused by Michael Jackson when they were children over many years.
Today Michael Jackson remains one of the most celebrated and vilified pop stars of all time. To some, he is the personification of innocence, a real-life Peter Pan – to others, a child molester who went to his grave without paying the price.
His 2005 trial sits at the centre of this heated debate. For Jackson’s supporters, it is the unequivocal evidence of his innocence. If he were guilty of these crimes, why didn’t a judge find him guilty?
Garton: By unpicking the trial and the events that led up to it – and particularly exploring Michael’s own psychological state at the time through access to unheard tapes with him and testimony from those within the Jackson camp – we wanted to try to understand why Michael Jackson, unlike perhaps any other star, is seemingly uncancellable.
