Pharrell Williams, Michel Gondry Shut Down Their Universal Musical Amid Editing Process – Hollywood Reporter
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Pharrell Williams attends The LEGO Group x Pharrell Williams Immersive Experience on October 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The LEGO Group)
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood ReporterSubscribe for full access to The Hollywood ReporterKelvin Harrison Jr., Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Janelle Monáe were part of the star-studded cast for the feature inspired by Williams’ childhood.
By
Ryan Gajewski
Senior Entertainment Reporter
Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry have decided to scrap their movie musical that was in the postproduction process for Universal Pictures.
Golden, which previously went by the title Atlantis, will not be shopped to other interested parties, as the creative team is not continuing on with the project. It had previously been scheduled for release on May 9.
The star-studded cast included Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Janelle Monáe, Missy Elliott and Quinta Brunson. The project was set in Virginia Beach during the summer of 1977 and inspired by Atlantis Apartments, the neighborhood where Williams grew up. Gondry helmed the musical from a script by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson, while Williams was a producer alongside Mimi Valdés and Gil Netter.
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“When all of us got into the editing room, we collectively decided there wasn’t a path forward to tell the version of this story that we originally envisioned,” Williams and Gondry said in a joint statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “We appreciate all the hard work of the talented cast and crew. While we’re disappointed, we can’t deliver this film, we have incredible partners at Universal and will collaborate in a different capacity again soon.”
Williams has a long relationship with Universal, including his work on the music for the Despicable Me franchise. His 2013 hit “Happy,” which was featured on the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, went on to receive an Oscar nomination and win a Grammy. Universal also handled international distribution on Piece by Piece, last year’s animated biographical documentary of Williams’ life told with Legos that was distributed domestically by Focus Features.
Gondry has helmed such scripted features as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep, Be Kind Rewind and The Green Hornet, along with the music-focused documentary Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. The filmmaker won an Oscar for his work on the script for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
During an interview with Empire that published in November, Williams discussed feeling grateful to work on Golden. “It’s a coming-of-age story about self-discovery and pursuing your dreams, but it’s so much more magical than that,” he said at the time. “It’s a celebration of Black life, Black culture and, most importantly, Black joy.”
Variety was first to report the news of the movie not going forward. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every daySign up for THR news straight to your inbox every daySubscribe for full access to The Hollywood ReporterSend us a tip using our anonymous form.
