Netflix has shelved the release of the long-awaited controversial documentary series about the late music icon Prince.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman has been secretly working on the project for the last few years with full access to the archives from the estate. However, there have been rumors that the project has been in legal limbo.
Netflix and Prince Estate Confirm Ezra Edelman Documentary Series Has Been Canceled
In a shared statement posted on X, Netflix and The Prince Estate mutually announced that they are no longer moving forward with Edelman's Prince documentary series, effectively shelving its release.
They also revealed that they are developing a new Prince documentary project that will feature exclusive content from the Prince archives. It is unknown yet which producer and filmmaker are involved in the new iteration.
"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," they said in the shared statement.
Prince's estate also shared a video post on X where they touted that "the vault has been freed" accompanied by the hashtag "#FREE."
Why Did Netflix and Prince Estate Cancel Ezra Edelman's Documentary?
According to reports, Prince's estate was not happy with the first cut of the documentary that Edelman presented to them.
They claimed that it was filled with "dramatic" factual inaccuracies and "sensationalized" renderings of certain events from the late music icon's life.
Edelman also delivered a nine-hour cut of the documentary, instead of the six-hour runtime that was agreed upon. It was seen as a violation of the agreement that presumably enabled the estate to withhold music rights.
Another report also revealed that Edelman's documentary would have featured Prince’s ex-girlfriends accusing him of physical and emotional abuse.
Edelman's version was going to explore the late music icon's journey in his artistry and personal struggles in his life such as his accounts of his own abusive childhood and his marriage with ex-wife Mayte Garcia.
So far, Edelman has not publicly weighed in on the cancellation of his project.
What do you think of the project's cancellation? Let us know in the comments!
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