Pharrell Williams’ Michel Gondry-Directed Biopic Permanently Shelved

A Pharrell Williams biopic helmed by director Michel Gondry has been permanently shelved by Universal, just three months before the film’s scheduled May 9 release.

According to Variety, the “coming-of-age musical” — originally titled Atlantis before the name was changed to Golden — had long finished filming and was in post-production when the creative team hit an insurmountable stumbling block while editing.

“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 told Variety in a joint statement. “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.”

Golden — not to be confused with Williams’ 2023 Lego biopic Piece by Piece — was described as a coming-of-age musical set in the summer of 1977 in Virginia Beach in a neighborhood like the one where Pharrell grew up. “It’s a coming-of-age story about self-discovery and pursuing your dreams, but it’s so much more magical than that. It’s a celebration of Black life, Black culture, and most importantly, Black joy,” Williams previously said of the movie.

The star-studded cast included fellow Virginia native Missy Elliott, Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Anderson .Paak, Janelle Monáe, Tim Meadows, Brian Tyree Henry, Jaboukie Young-White and more.

In August 2024, the still-titled Atlantis tentatively scheduled a May 9, 2025 release date; however, the now-Golden will not be released in any capacity — like tax write-off films like Batgirl and Coyote Vs. Acme — with the film remaining permanently halted in its current, early-edited state, Variety reports.