Jackson Brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon Get Their Own Documentary

Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon Jackson — the four founding members of The Jackson 5 not named Michael — will tell their story on screen together for the first time in a new feature documentary launching at MIPCOM.

Workerbee, part of Banijay UK, and Paper Route Studios have secured exclusive access to the four brothers for a 90-minute film, also available as a three-part documentary series, set for global release. Mediawan Rights will handle international distribution and begin its sales push at MIPCOM in Cannes.

The as-yet-untitled film took three years to make. Benjamin Hirsch, director of the documentary "Janet Jackson," is at the helm. According to the project's description, the film chronicles the brothers' "extraordinary rise, triumph, fractures and reunion," tracing their path from Gary, Indiana, to global superstardom.

The film holds particular weight for one reason: it contains the final interview Tito Jackson gave before his death in 2024.

What will the documentary cover?

The description frames it as "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."

Drawing on observational filming, rare archive footage, unseen material and the brothers' own recollections, the film examines how they were shaped by their father, Joe Jackson, whose "uncompromising determination turned family rehearsals into a relentless training ground."

The four remember those early years differently. "The pressure, the competition, the laughter between takes and the sense that, even as children, something extraordinary might be happening," the description notes. They also recall their mother, Katherine, "at the heart of the family operation, as they began to venture out beyond Gary."

Who is making it?

The creative team:

• Director: Benjamin Hirsch
• Editor: Simon Stanley
• Producer: Dorothea Sterian
• Archive producer: Sam Newman-Butler
• Production manager: Sophie White
• Associate producer: Yessica De Brouwer
• Executive producers: Rick Murray and Marc Pos

Banijay Entertainment backed the film through early-stage development investment via its Creative Fund.

"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 of 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," Murray added. "We're incredibly grateful to them for their trust and for allowing us to tell their story."

Hirsch called the assignment "a huge privilege" after his work with Janet Jackson, citing "their untold and amazing stories" and "their rare and often unseen archival footage" as the film's raw material.

What happens at MIPCOM?

Mediawan Rights will present the project to international buyers at the Cannes market. Benjamin Lepetit, VP of content at Mediawan Rights, called it "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," Lepetit said.

Corey Russell, co-founder of Paper Route Studios, said: "The Jacksons are a music royalty and deserve to have their story told. Ben is a real talent and will craft a beautiful and compelling documentary. We can't wait for audiences to see this film."

With exclusive access to all four surviving founders — and Tito Jackson's final testimony — the project positions itself as the definitive record of the group. Buyers at MIPCOM will decide how far and how fast it travels.