The announcement comes only months after the blockbuster biopic “Michael” reignited debate over Joe’s role in shaping one of music’s most famous families while depicting him as a harsh and intimidating figure.
Marlon Jackson Wants to Revisit Joe Jackson’s Legacy After ‘Michael’
Marlon Jackson has partnered with BLK Prime on “The Manager, The Mythology, The Legend,” an eight-episode docuseries that will examine Joe Jackson’s life beyond his public reputation. Longtime Jackson family friend Steven Manning is attached as an executive producer, with the project expected to explore Joe’s early years as the driving force behind the careers of the Jacksons.
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Explaining why he wanted to make the show, Marlon said he was “thrilled” to finally tell his father’s story. He described Joe’s life as being “replete with triumphs and challenges” and said the production would offer “a distinctive and accurate portrayal of the man behind our family.” He also expressed hope that audiences would gain “an intimate glimpse into the remarkable individual we knew and loved.”
The timing is significant. Released earlier this year, “Michael” became the highest-grossing biographical film ever after surpassing $1 billion worldwide, but it also sparked debate over its depiction of Joe Jackson. In the film, Colman Domingo portrays the family patriarch as an authoritarian father whose strict discipline shaped Michael Jackson’s early career before the singer eventually distanced himself.
A source familiar with the upcoming series told Page Six that the project was motivated in part by the belief that Joe “was demonized” in both “Michael” and the Broadway production “MJ.” The insider argued that “There’s another side of him that hasn’t been told” before adding, “There’s no manager greater than Mr. Jackson. He created the Jackson Five, Janet and Michael.”
Joe Jackson, who died in 2018 at the age of 89 after battling pancreatic cancer, remains one of the most polarizing figures in music history. His children have offered differing accounts over the years regarding his parenting, with allegations of abuse becoming a defining part of his public image even as others credited his demanding approach for helping build one of entertainment’s most successful family dynasties.
