As a die-hard fan of Prince and a longtime observer of the entertainment industry, I’m both excited and disheartened by the latest news regarding Netflix‘s ongoing Prince documentary. The prospect of an in-depth exploration of the enigmatic musician’s life is truly enticing, but the reported roadblocks are disconcerting.
As a passionate gamer and documentery lover, I’ve come to rely on Netflix as my go-to source for thought-provoking and engaging true stories. And just when I think I’ve seen it all, they might be sitting on another potential hit! According to Puck, a long-form Prince documentary has been in the works at Netflix for the past four years. Director Ezra Edelman has reportedly taken the helm after Ava DuVernay left the project. However, there are two significant obstacles that could be preventing this masterpiece from seeing the light of day: a size issue and an estate problem.
According to Puck’s report, the Prince estate objects to the docuseries due to claimed inaccuracies. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t prevent its release since Edelman and Netflix have control over the final edit. However, there’s a contractual issue: Netflix agreed to produce a series no longer than six hours, but Edelman’s current cut lasts nine hours. This discrepancy is causing delays, with the Prince estate using it as an excuse to block the release of potentially false content, and Edelman and Netflix holding firm on their creative commitments. A resolution may still transpire, but for now, production is at a standstill.
It’s no surprise that the artist, who is also known for singing and filmmaking, made this decision given the chaos surrounding his estate. Different heirs may have varying opinions on matters, making it a predictable extension of Prince’s past behavior. Known for guarding his possessions and public image meticulously during his life.
Prince fought to control his creative legacy
Prince had a history of taking bold steps to protect and value his musical legacy. He famously sued Warner Bros. Records to terminate his contract. In a powerful statement, he wrote “slave” on his face as a protest and refused to use his name, instead using an unpronounceable symbol in response. Prince didn’t shy away from legal battles to maintain control over his music, even if that meant suing fans for bootlegging or online platforms like YouTube and eBay for selling unlicensed merchandise or sharing his music videos without permission. Consistent with this pattern, his estate is currently engaged in a court battle to decide who will manage the foundation after his passing.
If necessary, Netflix could initially release the Prince docuseries in a six-hour format to meet contractual obligations. Subsequently, if the series proves successful, they may follow their precedent and offer an extended version for viewers. This practice isn’t limited to one genre on Netflix; films like “Jawan” and Chris Rock’s stand-up special “Total Blackout” have had director’s cuts made available over time. Most recently, the two-part film “Rebel Moon” is scheduled to receive an R-rated director’s cut in August. Whether the Prince documentary will follow this pattern remains to be seen.
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2024-07-16 23:29