Pharrell Williams, Michel Gondry Scrap Their Movie Musical at Universal in Postproduction (EXCLUSIVE)

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The highly anticipated film musical based on Pharrell Williams‘ childhood, featuring big-name actors, has been definitively cancelled and will never be screened, according to our exclusive report by EbMaster.

The movie under discussion, previously known as “Atlantis,” is called “Golden.” It’s directed by Michel Gondry, who worked on “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Initially planned for a wide cinema release through Universal Pictures on May 5, there were reports that this date was moved back internally last year. The film features a star-studded cast, including chart toppers and an Academy Award winner such as Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Janelle Monáe, Missy Elliott, Quinta Brunson, Anderson .Paak, and Jaboukie Young-White.

Universal Pictures and Williams, a renowned composer and performer known for the popular “Despicable Me” series, collaborated on this project through their long-standing creative alliance. According to various reports, the production was halted following a consensus among producers and Gondry that the film failed to meet its intended concept. Gil Netter, who produced “The Blind Side,” joined forces with Williams and his partner Mimi Valdes in producing the movie.

In a joint statement to EbMaster, Williams and Gondry expressed that when they entered the editing room, they collectively realized there wasn’t a viable way to tell the original story as planned. They acknowledged the exceptional efforts of the talented cast and crew. Although they are disappointed not to release this film, they look forward to collaborating with their partners at Universal on a new project in the near future.

According to insiders, Universal is expected to cover approximately $20 million in production expenses that have already been incurred. The studio declined to provide further information, only referring to the statement from Williams and Gondry. Sources close to the project “Golden” claim that the film is currently in the early stages of post-production, which unfortunately means it won’t be finished, but everyone involved has already been compensated for their completed work.

It’s not surprising that Universal chose to prioritize its relationship with Williams over financial considerations, even if it means incurring losses. Abandoning a project so close to completion is rare within studio circles. However, there have been instances where studios like Warner Bros. Pictures have opted to cancel films such as “Batgirl” and “Coyote vs. Acme” for tax purposes. Universal, however, is in an unusual situation, forced to make this decision due to the request from its creators.

This studio has more total deals than any of its rivals, including first-look and exclusive agreements with Jordan Peele, Amy Pascal, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, LeBron James, Will Packer, Judd Apatow, and The Daniels among others. Last year, Universal’s premium label, Focus Features, released “Piece by Piece,” a documentary about Williams’ life and career that was narrated using Lego figures.

It’s not entirely certain what factors are preventing the movie from progressing as desired by those involved in its creation.

In November, Williams unveiled a sneak peek of “Golden” to Empire magazine for the first time (and so far, the only look). During the interview, he compared “Golden” with his previous work, “Piece by Piece”, noting that the upcoming film would incorporate original music from the acclaimed songwriting team Pasek and Paul.

Williams stated that ‘Piece By Piece’ is based on his personal life experiences, whereas ‘Golden’ revolves around the neighborhood he grew up in. At its core, it’s a musical journey set during the summer of 1977 in Virginia Beach. It’s essentially a tale of growing up, finding oneself, and chasing dreams, but it transcends that by offering a captivating portrayal of Black life, culture, and most significantly, the essence of Black happiness.

At present, Williams holds the position of Men’s Creative Director at the luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton. Previously, he provided unique music for the Tyler Perry film “The Six Triple Eight,” which premiered on Netflix. Gondry is renowned for works such as “The Science of Sleep,” “The Book of Solutions,” and the Jim Carrey series “Kidding.” His upcoming project is an animated film titled “Maya, Give Me A Title,” based on his personal relationship with his daughter. This movie will be showcased at this month’s Berlin Film Festival.

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2025-02-08 02:16