Marlon Jackson is setting the record straight about his father. The sixth child of Joseph and Katherine Jackson has partnered with streaming platform BLK Prime on a new original series titled The Manager, The Mythology, The Legend, offering what the family describes as a distinctive and accurate portrayal of the man behind one of music’s greatest dynasties.
The eight-episode series, developed in collaboration with Marlon Jackson, chronicles how Joseph Walter Jackson managed his children’s careers, transforming them from a Gary, Indiana household into a global cultural phenomenon. The first season will explore the weight of Joe’s determination, the pressures his family faced and the unity that carried them forward. Multiple seasons have already been committed.
The announcement comes in the wake of the Michael biopic, in which Colman Domingo portrayed Joe Jackson as an overbearing and at times violent figure. Those close to the project feel Joseph was demonized in both the film and the Broadway musical MJ. “There’s another side of him that hasn’t been told,” an insider told Page Six. “There’s no manager greater than Mr. Jackson. He created the Jackson Five, Janet and Michael.”
Marlon said he is thrilled to finally share his father’s story. “Our father’s life is replete with triumphs and challenges, and we firmly believe that this series will offer a distinctive and accurate portrayal of the man behind our family,” he said. “We are thrilled to share his indelible legacy with fans worldwide, granting them an intimate glimpse into the remarkable individual we knew and loved.”
Joe Jackson launched his sons Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael’s careers in the 1960s and 1970s, turning the Jackson Five into a global sensation, before helping launch daughter Janet’s career as well. He passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018 at age 89. Days after his death, Janet honored him at Essence Music Festival, telling the crowd, “My father was a great man.”
Lauren Pearson, Vice President of Operations at BLK Prime, described Joe as “a visionary trailblazer who laid the groundwork for one of the most triumphant family dynasties in the realm of music.” Longtime family friend Steven Manning will serve as executive producer.
Casting and additional production details will be announced in the coming months. The Manager, The Mythology, The Legend is coming soon exclusively to BLK Prime.