A highly anticipated, nine-hour Prince documentary, years in the making, has been canceled by Netflix due to ongoing disputes with the late musician’s estate. The estate will now move forward with its own project, a new documentary that will feature exclusive content from Prince’s personal archives.
Netflix and Prince’s estate made the announcement on Friday, February 7, revealing that the documentary directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman would no longer be released. Instead, the estate will oversee the development and production of a new film.
“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 said.
Edelman, who had been working on the project since 2019, had final approval over the film, but the estate was given the opportunity to review it for factual accuracy. When the estate saw a cut of the film in 2023, it provided Edelman with 17 pages of feedback, demanding changes to the film. Some of the requests were agreed upon, but others were not.
Edelman’s documentary, described as a “cursed masterpiece,” aimed to portray both the musical genius and the more private, troubled aspects of Prince’s life. The film included exclusive interviews with over 70 people and never-before-seen footage. It also explored Prince’s personal struggles, including the loss of his infant son with ex-wife Mayte Garcia and his difficult childhood. The documentary also featured an interview with a former girlfriend who accused him of physical abuse. In one scene, Jill Jones, a former lover, described an incident in 1984 when Prince allegedly punched her in the face multiple times.
However, the documentary faced heavy criticism from the estate, which felt the film was sensationalized and inaccurate. A July report from Variety stated that the project was “dead in the water” following the estate’s objections.
Charles Spicer, a close friend of Prince and a former business advisor, took to social media to express frustration with the film’s portrayal. He stated, “We have a duty to honor and protect his legacy with a story that fairly shows him, complexities as well as his greatness.”
In response to the cancellation, L. Londell McMillan, an attorney representing the estate, wrote on social media, “Anyone disparaging or slandering Prince has a problem with me.” He added that while Prince had flaws, he was “a great man, the greatest artist ever, philanthropist, innovator, and he helped many people including me.”
As the controversy unfolds, fans can expect a new documentary that will provide a more approved and balanced view of Prince’s life and legacy.
Read more:
