Netflix canceled its planned Prince documentary after disagreeing with his property, but developed a new project for a new lens.
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Prince’s highly anticipated Netflix documentary has been put on hold after a dispute between the streaming giant and the estate of the late musician, but a new project is now underway.
The decision was announced Thursday (February 6) in a joint statement between Netflix and Prince Estate, which means director Ezra Edelman’s nine-hour film will never see the light of the day.
“Prince Manor and Netflix have reached a common agreement that will enable the manor to develop and produce new documentaries that contain exclusive content from the Prince archive,” the statement said. “So, Netflix documentaries will not be released.”
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The New York Times first reported on the impact between the estate and Netflix in September 2024, when sources indicated that the prince’s legacy was trying to prevent the documentary from moving forward.
Representatives of the estate claimed that the film misrepresented the legendary musicians, known for “Purple Rain,” “Dove Crying,” and “Raspberry Beret.”
Edelman is an Oscar-winning OJ: Made in the United States, and has not yet publicly commented on the decision. While fans may be disappointed with the cancellation, the estate didn’t make the moment without celebration.
On the Instagram of the Manor, a 1982 ballad of the Prince of Freedom appeared with the caption: “The Vault has been released. #Free.”
Prince’s property is divided into main Wave Music, which acquired stock from three heirs in 2021, while Prince Legacy is the company run by two managers and three relatives.
Since his death in 2016, he has been taking an unexpected overdose of fentanyl at the age of 57, and his vast archives (often called “the vault”) are a fascinating subject, and fans are eager to see and hear him stay unissued material.
Now, with the property control narrative, it remains to be seen what direction the new documentary will take.
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