The four founding members of The Jackson 5 not named Michael are coming together for their own documentary for the first time.
Workerbee (part of Banijay UK) and Paper Route Studios have secured exclusive access to Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon Jackson for a 90’ feature-length film, also available as a three-part doc series, set for global release. Mediawan is set to to handle international distribution and launch a sales push at MIPCOM.
The as-yet-unnamed film is, according to the description, the story of “four brothers and their journey as part of one of the world’s earliest and most successful and influential boy bands of all time and the various roads each of their lives took.”
Three years in the making, the film, directed by Benjamin Hirsch (“Janet Jackson”), chronicles the “extraordinary rise, triumph, fractures and reunion,” from their beginnings in Gary, Indiana, through their transformation into global superstars. The film also features the final interview Tito Jackson gave before his death in 2024.
The film uses observational filming, rare archive footage, unseen material and recollections from the four brothers to explore how they were shaped by their father Joe Jackson, whose “uncompromising determination turned family rehearsals into a relentless training ground,” adds the description. “The four remember those early rehearsals differently — the pressure, the competition, the laughter between takes and the sense that, even as children, something extraordinary might be happening. They also remember their mother Katherine at the heart of the family operation, as they began to venture out beyond Gary.”
“When Marc Pos came to us about working with The Jacksons it was an instant ‘yes’. The Jackson 5 are one of the most influential musical acts of all time,” said Rick Murray, CEO Workerbee Group.
“This film tells the story of the four remaining members of the original band from their perspective, offering an unprecedented insight into their rise from humble beginnings to global superstardom and their lives through today. We’re incredibly grateful to them for their trust and for allowing us to tell their story.”
Added director Hirsch: “Following our work with Janet Jackson, having the opportunity to work with the Jackson brothers is a huge privilege. From listening to their untold and amazing stories, delving into their rare and often unseen archival footage and rediscovering their incredible back catalogue of hits, this film has been a real treat to put together.”
The film is directed by Hirsch, with Simon Stanley as film editor, Dorothea Sterian as producer, Sam Newman-Butler as archive producer and Sophie White as production manager. Yessica De Brouwer is associate producer, with Murray and Marc Pos as executive producers.
“It is a true honour to be a part of the team to bring this story to life after all of these years,” said Corey Russell, co-founder, Paper Route Studios. “The Jacksons are a music royalty and deserve to have their story told. Working with the team at Workerbee has been an absolute pleasure. Ben is a real talent and will craft a beautiful and compelling documentary. We can’t wait for audiences to see this film.”
Added Benjamin Lepetit, VP of content, Mediawan Rights: “We are delighted to accompany the film on its international journey. This is a powerful story of family, ambition and music, centered on artists whose influence has resonated across generations and around the world. The never-seen-before access to the family archives and the ambition of the project make it the defining documentary on the Jacksons. We look forward to introducing this exceptional documentary to international buyers at MIPCOM.”
Banijay Entertainment supported the film through early-stage development investment via its Creative Fund.