Prince Documentary on Pause Due to Estate Dispute

A nine-hour documentary about the late singer Prince has hit a roadblock as differences between his estate and the production team have put the project on pause. Originally set to stream on Netflix, the film is now in limbo after the estate raised concerns about alleged factual inaccuracies and sensationalized portrayals of events from Prince’s life.

While specific details about the disputed content are not available, sources suggest that the estate felt certain moments were exaggerated and not properly fact-checked. The director, Ezra Edelman, reportedly did not take well to the feedback, leading to a standstill in production. Some sources suggest that the issue may stem from a lack of control and a desire for a more positive portrayal of the late singer.

The six-part series was approved for a six-hour run, but Edelman expanded it to nine hours, breaching the agreement and potentially jeopardizing music rights. Without Prince’s music, releasing the documentary would pose significant creative and commercial challenges.

Despite the setback, Netflix and Edelman retain control over the final cut of the film. The director, who has been working on the project for over four years, is said to be devastated by the turn of events.

Ava DuVernay, initially attached to direct the documentary, expressed her admiration for Prince in a tweet from 2018. She described him as a genius and a joy, emphasizing her commitment to making the film with love and care. The future of the documentary remains uncertain as negotiations between the estate and the production team continue.