Netflix Cancels Prince Documentary Amid New Agreement with Estate

Netflix Cancels Prince Documentary Following New Deal with Estate

Netflix has announced the cancellation of its highly anticipated six-part documentary on the legendary musician Prince. This decision comes as part of a new agreement between the streaming giant and the late artist’s estate, allowing the estate to produce an exclusive documentary featuring rare and previously unseen content from Prince’s personal archives.

In an official statement, both Netflix and the Prince Estate confirmed the mutual decision to pull the project, which was originally directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman.

“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,” the statement read. “As a result, the Netflix documentary will not be released.”

The estate also took to social media to share the news with fans. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), they proclaimed, “The vault has been freed,” accompanied by an iconic Prince quote: “Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people.” The post was set to the background of his 1982 song Free and included another of his philosophical musings: “The truth is, you are either here to enlighten or discourage.”

The original documentary had been in production for nearly five years but had faced numerous obstacles. A report from The New York Times in September revealed that Edelman’s project had been mired in legal disputes, preventing its release. Although Netflix and Edelman retained the final cut of the film, the Prince Estate had the right to review the documentary for factual accuracy. However, as new representatives took control of the estate in recent years, they ultimately decided to block the project from moving forward.

With this new agreement, the estate is set to embark on an entirely fresh documentary venture, one that promises exclusive access to Prince’s vault and a deeper look into the life and artistry of the seven-time Grammy winner.

While fans may be disappointed by the cancellation of Edelman’s documentary, the upcoming estate-produced project offers hope for a definitive and intimate portrayal of the iconic musician, one that aligns more closely with his vision and legacy.