The highly anticipated six-part documentary chronicling the life of legendary musician Prince is no longer moving forward at Netflix. According to Variety, the project was initially set to be helmed by Oscar-winning director Ezra Edelman, known for his acclaimed 2016 documentary O.J.: Made in America.
Netflix confirmed the cancellation in a Feb. 13 statement, citing a new direction for the project.
The Prince Estate and Netflix have come to a mutual agreement that will allow the estate to develop and produce a new documentary featuring exclusive content from Prince’s archive. As a result, the Netflix documentary will not be released.
the statement read.Advertisement
Prince’s Estate Celebrates the Decision
Following the announcement, the late musician’s estate took to X (formerly Twitter) to declare its stance on the split. “The Vault Has Been Freed. #FREE,” read the post, accompanied by a 30-second video of the iconic artist.
Documentary Faced Controversy Over Alleged Inaccuracies
The decision to scrap the project comes amid reports that Prince’s estate had serious concerns about the film’s accuracy. According to sources, the estate took issue with “dramatic” factual inaccuracies and what they described as “sensationalized” portrayals of key moments in Prince’s life.
Director Edelman had reportedly spent over four years working on the documentary, gaining exclusive access to Prince’s archives. However, the first drafts of the project were developed under a deal between Netflix and Comerica Bank, which was the interim executor of Prince’s estate. The agreement was for a six-hour series, but Edelman reportedly submitted nine hours of footage, which allegedly breached contract terms that could have jeopardized the estate’s ability to control music rights.
Adding to the controversy, a September 2024 report by The New York Times revealed that the documentary included allegations from some of Prince’s former girlfriends, accusing the Purple Rain singer of physical and emotional abuse. The film also delved into his turbulent childhood, personal struggles, and the tragic loss of his child with ex-wife Mayte Garcia.
Hollywood’s Obsession With Music Biopics
While Prince’s documentary has been shelved, Hollywood continues to bank on musician-centered films. Recent years have seen blockbuster biopics on icons like Freddie Mercury (Bohemian Rhapsody), Elton John (Rocketman), and Bob Dylan, played by Timothée Chalamet in the upcoming A Complete Unknown.
More biopics are in the works, including a Roy Orbison film from Bohemian Rhapsody producer Denis O’Sullivan. Additionally, Wicked director Jon M. Chu is set to adapt Britney Spears’ memoir The Woman in Me into a biopic.
She’s going to be very involved. I haven’t really started anything fully yet, but she will be very involved in this.
Chu told Life & Style
Springsteen’s Life Hits the Big Screen
Even Bruce Springsteen is getting the biopic treatment. The upcoming film Deliver Me From Nowhere will star The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White as The Boss himself. Springsteen recently visited the set and had nothing but praise for the actor’s performance. “He sings well. He sings very well,” the rock legend told The Wrap.
While Prince fans may have to wait for a new documentary, the wave of musician biopics shows no signs of slowing down.
Source: CBR