Prince estate blocks release of Netflix documentary by Oscar-winning director Ezra Edelman Nine-hour film will not be seen, after ‘mutual agreement’ between estate and Netflix, with estate announcing plans for its own film.
Netflix said in a statement to the Minnesota Star Tribune: “The Prince Estate and Netflix have come to a mutual agreement that will allow the estate to develop and produce a new documentary featuring exclusive content from Prince’s archive.
Now the film’s release has been cancelled, the estate has taken a triumphant tone on social media, sharing the same statement as Netflix as well as a new video captioned “The Vault has been freed”, showing footage of Prince alongside two quotes by him: “Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people,” and: “The truth is, you’re either here to enlighten or discourage.”.
Edelman, who spent five years making his Prince film, was originally granted unprecedented access to Prince’s archives – known as The Vault – by the estate following an undisclosed multimillion-dollar deal.
The film, which was completed but untitled, was made by Ezra Edelman, who won an Academy Award and Emmy for the eight-hour 2016 film OJ: Made in America, which told the story of the life and criminal trial of OJ Simpson.
