Netflix has tragically shelved what was poised to be a highly anticipated six-part documentary on Prince, masterfully helmed by Ezra Edelman. In a statement shared with Variety on Thursday, Netflix revealed, "The Prince Estate and Netflix have amicably agreed to part ways, paving the way for the estate to develop and produce a fresh documentary showcasing exclusive content culled from Prince's treasure trove of archives." Consequently, the Netflix documentary, which fans were eagerly awaiting, will never see the light of day.
Upon breaking this news, Prince's estate released a video on X, triumphantly declaring, "The vault has been liberated," accompanied by the hashtag #Free. According to insiders, representatives of the late legend's estate had earlier expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that an initial version of the film was riddled with "dramatized" factual inaccuracies and "sensationalized" portrayals of pivotal moments in his life.
Edelman, renowned for his Oscar-winning documentary "O.J.: Made in America," had discreetly toiled on this project for over four years. He was handpicked to step into the shoes of original director Ava DuVernay and granted unparalleled access to Prince's archives. The initial agreement, brokered between Netflix and representatives of Comerica Bank, the interim executor of Prince's estate, stipulated a six-hour series. However, Edelman reportedly delivered an extensive nine hours of footage, a breach of the agreement that may have given the estate grounds to withhold music rights.
A September report in The New York Times revealed that the documentary contained explosive accounts from Prince's ex-girlfriends, accusing him of physical and emotional abuse. The film was set to delve into the depths of Prince's journey, encapsulating both his artistic brilliance and personal relationships, including harrowing tales of his own abusive childhood and the heartbreaking abandonment of his young wife, Mayte Garcia, after the couple's tragic loss of their child.
