Written and presented by Jacques Peretti - the man behind three other films about Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson: What Really Happened; Michael Jackson’s Last Days: What Really Happened; and Michael Jackson’s Secret Hollywood - as well as the BBC Two series The Men Who Made Us Fat and The Men Who Made Us Spend - this film will take a close look at each stage of Jackson’s life to get a full understanding of this complex character.

It will take us from his early years with The Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana, to his time in New York - and the notorious nightclub Studio 54 - to his relationship with the media, retreat into fantasy and creation of Neverland, to the preparations for his This Is It concerts shortly before his death.

By speaking to the individuals who shaped him and were close to him, and looking at key moments in his career that had a profound impact on him, the film will try and unpick the circumstances, controversies and accusations that continue to surround him today in an attempt to better understand the rise and fall of the pop superstar.

Mark Bell, Commissioning Editor, BBC Arts, says: “When Jacques Peretti approached us early last year with an idea of making a fourth film about Michael Jackson, there was no doubt that he was uniquely placed to take a broad look at the mysterious and controversial life and reputation of this man. We are looking forward to premiering this film on BBC Two later this year.”

Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two, says: "Jaques Peretti has been one of the foremost critical commentators of Michael Jackson and his troubled life and legacy. 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."

Michael Jackson: The Rise And Fall will be broadcast later in 2019 on BBC Two. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Mark Bell, Commissioning Editor, Factual. It is a BBC Studios production with Janet Lee as Executive Producer and Shurwin Beckford as the Director and Producer.