Fremantle’s new documentary series “The Michael Jackson Story,” produced by Fremantle’s Emmy award-winning 72 Films, has sold to multiple global territories including France, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Middle East.
The series had access to rare intimate archive footage and revelatory interviews with those closest to the singer, and includes contributions from his sister La Toya Jackson, singer Dionne Warwick, manager Dieter Wiesner, bodyguard Bill Whitfield, family attorney Brian Oxman and prosecutor Ron Zonen.
“A deeply researched study of a trailblazing musical genius whose personal life remains a complex enigma, the new series goes beyond the music to tell the full story, exploring the rise, controversy, and enduring legacy of one of the most successful pop stars of all time,” Fremantle said in a statement.
The series was commissioned by the BBC and will first air in the U.K. on Wednesday on one of its main linear channels, BBC Two, and its streaming platform, BBC iPlayer, under the title “Michael Jackson: An American Tragedy.”
International broadcasters include France TV (France), NPO Netherlands (the Netherlands), Nine Network (Australia), Sky TV (New Zealand & Oceania), Sky Italia (Italy), Asharq (Middle East), Vodafone Greece (Greece & Med), Now TV (Hong Kong), Sveriges Television (Sweden), the Danish Broadcast Corporation (Denmark), YLE (Finland) and VRT (Belgium).
Mark Reynolds, Fremantle’s global head of documentaries and factual, said: “We’re excited to be partnering with such an exceptional group of global broadcasters to introduce ‘The Michael Jackson Story’ to the world. It’s a complex tale of fame, family and legacy, exploring the extraordinary rise of the King of Pop and the controversies that surrounded him later in life. The team at 72 Films have approached this story with remarkable insight and care, and offers audiences a unique glimpse into moments of Jackson’s life that are rarely shared.”
Fremantle added: “From his rise to fame at a young age in the racially segregated landscape of 1960s America, to the controversies surrounding his personal affairs in later years, the series offers a comprehensive examination of Jackson’s life. As well as the stories behind the iconic songs, innovative videos and mesmeric live performances, the series will also explore the longstanding allegations of child sexual abuse, which he denied. In addition, the series will look at how the Michael Jackson estate continues to generate billions of dollars from his art, and how his legacy sits within the cultural landscape today.”
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The series was commissioned by Simon Young at the BBC and is directed by documentary filmmaker Sophie Fuller (“House of Kardashian,” “The Met: Policing London”), produced by 72 Films (“The Tony Blair Story,” “The Donald Trump Show,” “Vietnam: The War That Changed America”). Executive producers are Mark Raphael and Rob Coldstream. Fremantle handles global sales.
Fremantle’s documentary slate includes “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley,” “The Zelensky Story,” “Once Upon a Time in Space” and “McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass.” Fremantle has made several strategic investments to bolster its growth strategy within the documentary and non-scripted market, which includes more than 20 Fremantle labels producing documentaries across 13 territories.
From Variety US