Pharrell Williams, Michel Gondry Shut Down Their Universal Musical Amid Editing Process

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Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry have chosen to abandon their planned movie musical, which was nearing completion at Universal Pictures.

The project once known as “Atlantis,” previously referred to as “Golden,” will no longer be offered to potential buyers, since the creative team has decided to discontinue their involvement in it.

In this production, we had an impressive ensemble featuring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Janelle Monáe, and Missy Elliott. The story unfolds in Virginia Beach during the summer of ’77, drawing inspiration from Atlantis Apartments, a place that mirrors Williams’ childhood home. Gondry directed the musical, with Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson providing the script, while Williams served as a producer alongside Mimi Valdés and Gil Netter.

In a joint statement, shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Williams and Gondry stated that when everyone gathered in the editing suite, they collectively realized there was no viable way to tell the story as initially planned. They expressed gratitude for the dedication and skill of the cast and crew. Despite their disappointment, they acknowledged they couldn’t complete this film. However, they have strong partners at Universal and look forward to collaborating with them on a different project soon.

Williams has had a lengthy collaboration with Universal, most notably contributing to the soundtracks of the Despicable Me series.

Michel Gondry has directed numerous films, including “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “The Science of Sleep,” “Be Kind Rewind,” and “The Green Hornet,” as well as the music-centered documentary “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.” The filmmaker was awarded an Oscar for his work on the screenplay for “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Variety was first to report the news of the movie not going forward.

More to come.

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2025-02-08 02:57