The BBC has announced that it will air its own documentary on the late Michael Jackson, rivalling Channel 4’s forthcoming Leaving Neverland.
Michael Jackson: The Rise and Fall will debut later this year and will act as an overview of the troubled pop star’s entire life, instead of just focusing on the allegations levelled against Jackson in Channel 4’s latest film.
Directed by Jacques Peretti, marking his fourth film on Jackson, it will reportedly trace his childhood in Gary, Indiana and continues all the way through to his final days as he prepared for the ‘This Is It’ concerts that never took place.
“Jacques Peretti has been one of the foremost critical commentators of Michael Jackson and his troubled life and legacy,” BBC controller Patrick Holland said.
“When he came to us over a year ago with the idea of reappraising him 10 years after his death, we were immediately taken with the project.
“We knew it would not shy away from the controversies that surround MJ and would be a thorough look at the many facets of his life that would help us try to understand what made him who he was.”
It comes as Channel 4 prepares to air Leaving Neverland next week. The documentary is split into two two-hour segments and features testimonies from Wade Robson and James Safechuck who allege that they were abused by the late star.
Jackson’s family have denied the allegations and threatened to sue Channel 4 and HBO over the film.
