Marlon Jackson is narrating and developing a new docuseries about his father, the late Joe Jackson, for BLK Prime. The Jacksons announced the project on Instagram, revealing the series will be titled The Manager, The Mythology, The Legend and will span eight episodes with a commitment for multiple seasons.
The series is billed as an inside look at the man who guided the Jackson family’s rise from Gary, Indiana, to global superstardom, exploring Joe’s early life, personal struggles, ambition and his role in building one of music’s most successful family dynasties. The docuseries will also examine the Jackson 5’s relationship with Motown and the pressures surrounding the family’s extraordinary rise.
“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,” Marlon said in a statement. “We are thrilled to share my father’s indelible legacy with fans worldwide, granting them an intimate glimpse into the remarkable individual we knew and loved.”
Joe Jackson managed the careers of Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson as the Jackson 5 emerged as one of Motown’s biggest acts, with their first four singles reaching number one. He later helped launch daughter Janet Jackson’s entertainment career as well. His legacy, however, remains deeply complicated. Several of his children, including Michael, accused him of severe physical and emotional abuse. Joe acknowledged using strict discipline but denied many of the accusations made against him. He died on June 27, 2018, at the age of 89 after battling pancreatic cancer.
The announcement arrives amid renewed attention on Joe’s legacy following the release of the Michael Jackson biopic Michael, which portrayed him as a father who used physical punishment to push his sons to stardom and whose iron-fisted control his children would eventually reject. Following Joe’s death, Janet addressed his passing at Essence Fest. “He was very strong, and without his drive, his strength, we wouldn’t have this success,” she said. “My father was a great man.”
No premiere date has been announced. Additional details about production and casting will be revealed in the coming months.
