A long-awaited nine-hour documentary on Prince has been shelved by Netflix. The documentary was set to be one of the most comprehensive looks at the artist’s life and career, drawing from extensive archival footage and interviews.
Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman the project has reportedly been canned following tensions with the late ‘Purple Rain’ singer’s estate, with it and the streamer confirming in a joint statement on Friday (07.02.25) that they would be moving in a different direction. Edelman’s previous work includes the acclaimed “O.J.: Made in America” documentary series.
“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. Prince’s vault is estimated to contain thousands of unreleased songs and hundreds of hours of video footage.
Filmmaker Ezra, 50, had been working on the project since 2019 after being approached by Netflix. According to The New York Times, the deal granted him and Netflix final cut, while the estate retained rights to review the film for factual accuracy. The production reportedly cost several million dollars and involved years of research and interviews.
The estate was shown a cut of the documentary in 2023 and responded with a 17-page list of requested changes, according to attorney L Londell McMillan, one of the estate’s administrators. The extensive feedback highlighted the complex relationship between artistic vision and estate management.
While Ezra agreed to some, he declined others. This standoff reflects the ongoing challenges of documenting controversial aspects of iconic musicians’ lives while respecting their legacies.
New York Times culture reporter Sasha Weiss, who attended a private screening of the film, described the documentary as a “cursed masterpiece” and reported it provided an in-depth exploration of Prince’s music, career, and personal life – including aspects he had kept private before his death in 2016 at the age of 57. The film reportedly explored Prince’s innovative musical techniques and his influence on contemporary artists.
The documentary included interviews with more than 70 people, as well as never-before-seen footage from Prince’s vault. The extensive archive at Paisley Park, Prince’s studio complex, contains thousands of recordings and visual materials spanning his entire career.
Among the topics reportedly covered were the loss of Prince’s infant son with his ex-wife Mayte Garcia, his difficult childhood, and allegations of physical abuse from former partners. These sensitive subjects had rarely been discussed in previous documentaries about the artist.
According to The New York Times, one scene featured singer Jill Jones recounting an incident in 1984 in which she claimed the musician had punched her repeatedly. This revelation was among several controversial elements that reportedly concerned the estate.
A report from Variety in July suggested the project was already “dead in the water” following the screening, with estate representatives claiming it was factually inaccurate and “sensationalized”. The decision reflects the ongoing challenges of balancing historical accuracy with artistic interpretation in documentary filmmaking.
The cancellation of this project joins a growing list of high-profile documentaries that have faced similar challenges when dealing with estates of legendary musicians. Industry experts note that the control over an artist’s legacy often leads to tensions between filmmakers’ desire for complete storytelling and estates’ interests in preservation of image.
Prince’s musical legacy includes over 40 studio albums, multiple Grammy Awards, and an Oscar for Best Original Song Score. His influence on popular music continues to resonate, with his innovative approach to genre-blending and artistic independence serving as a model for contemporary artists.
The estate’s decision to pursue its own documentary suggests a different approach to telling Prince’s story may be forthcoming, though details about this new project have not yet been revealed. Music industry observers note that estate-produced documentaries often take a more curated approach to artists’ legacies.
