A planned Netflix documentary on Prince will no longer move forward after the late musician’s estate reached an agreement with the streaming giant. Instead, the estate has taken full control of developing a new project that will showcase never-before-seen material from Prince’s archives.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, February 6th, the estate and Netflix confirmed the decision, stating, “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. As a result, the Netflix documentary will not be released.”
The now-canceled documentary, directed by O.J.: Made in America filmmaker Ezra Edelman, had been in production for years. However, tensions between Netflix and the estate surfaced in 2024, with the estate arguing that the film did not accurately portray the legendary artist.
Prince, known for classics like “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry,” and “Raspberry Beret,” was famously protective of his work. Since his passing in 2016 at age 57 from an accidental fentanyl overdose, his vast collection of unreleased recordings—often called The Vault—has remained a source of fascination for fans.
Following the documentary’s cancellation, the estate marked the moment with a symbolic gesture. A video montage of Prince’s photos, set to his 1982 song “Free,” was posted on Instagram with the caption, “The Vault Has Been Freed. #FREE.”
Prince’s estate is divided between Primary Wave Music and Prince Legacy. This has led to ongoing debate about how to manage his legacy. Now, with the estate taking control, fans can expect a new documentary. It promises to offer a fresh perspective on the music icon’s life and career.
Leave a Reply