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 assumed full control over developing a new project that will showcase never-before-seen material from Prince’s archives.
Netflix Documentary Scrapped
In a joint statement released on Thursday, February 6, the Prince Estate and Netflix confirmed their mutual decision:
“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 Ezra Edelman, known for O.J.: Made in America, 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’s Legacy and the Vault
Prince, known for iconic hits 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.
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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.”
A New Prince Documentary is Coming
Prince’s estate is currently divided between Primary Wave Music and Prince Legacy, leading to ongoing debates about how to manage his legacy. However, with the estate now in control, fans can expect a new documentary that promises to offer a fresh perspective on the music icon’s life and career.
While details remain under wraps, the estate’s direct involvement signals a documentary that will likely be more in line with Prince’s vision and artistic legacy. Fans around the world eagerly await what promises to be an unprecedented look into the genius of one of music’s greatest legends.
