Netflix’s Controversial Docuseries Narrowly Avoided Cancellation

Published Jul 24, 2026, 3:10 PM EDT Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 10 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with. Netflix nearly gave the axe to this divisive docuseries. The streaming giant has an incredibly controversial history of canceling series before the story is concluded, leaving fan bases all over the world devastated by the lack of a conclusion. Shows such as The OA, The Society, and Sense8 were canceled, leaving many to question why Netflix made those decisions. Now, a new report suggests that a divisive documentary could've faced the chopping block, and many fans were actually hoping for its downfall. Variety has reported that the controversial series Michael Jackson: The Verdict was nearly canceled a week before its release. It is suggested that the hesitation to release was due to the fear of reprisal; a source stated that "It would have been very embarrassing to pull the series after you drop the trailer — it would have been a huge story." It's alleged that higher-ups got "cold feet" due to concerns of repercussions from Michael Jackson's estate and response from longtime fans of the musician. More to come...