Netflix has pulled the plug on a massive documentary that promised an unprecedented deep dive into the life of an American music icon. Now, the film’s director is speaking out.
The streaming giant initially struck a deal in 2018 with filmmaker Ezra Edelman, known for his Oscar-winning documentary O.J.: Made in America, to direct an in-depth film about Prince. The project was set to explore the legendary musician’s life and career, following his sudden passing in 2016 from an accidental fentanyl overdose at his Paisley Park home and studio in Minnesota.
Edelman, who took over after Ava DuVernay left the project, spent five years developing a nine-hour documentary that aimed to capture Prince’s genius. But by last year, reports surfaced that the project was “dead in the water.” Representatives from Prince’s estate claimed the documentary contained “factual inaccuracies,” and rumors emerged that the film included allegations of abuse against the late musician.
Netflix officially confirmed in February 2025 that the project had been scrapped. Instead, the company announced a new deal with Prince’s estate for a separate documentary.
Now, Edelman is breaking his silence on the Pablo Torres Speaks Out podcast, calling Netflix’s decision to kill the film “a joke.”
He pushed back against claims of inaccuracies, saying the estate’s real issue wasn’t about facts but control.
“They’re allowed to check the film for factual inaccuracies. Guess what? They came back with a 17-page document full of editorial issues, not factual ones,” Edelman said. “You think I have any interest in putting out a film that’s factually inaccurate?”
Edelman believes the pushback from Prince’s estate reflects the artist’s own obsession with control.
“This is Prince we’re talking about—one of the biggest control freaks in music history,” he said. “The irony is that Prince fought for artistic freedom, battled Warner Bros. because he felt they were stifling him. And now, my own work is being stifled and thrown away.”
When Edelman joined the project in 2018, he was given access to Prince’s archives—an experience he called “a gift.”
His vision for the documentary was ambitious, spanning nine hours. Some reports suggest that the estate took issue with the extended length, which was originally set at six hours, while others claim it objected to some of the documentary’s content.
Back in September, New York Times reporter Sasha Weiss—one of the few people to see the film—described it as a “cursed masterpiece.” The documentary reportedly featured candid interviews, including one with singer Jill Jones, a former girlfriend, who recounted a troubling encounter with Prince in 1984. She claimed that after she slapped him for kissing a friend of hers in a hotel, he allegedly responded, “This ain’t no f***ing movie,” before punching her multiple times.
Another ex, Susannah Melvoin, shared that Prince tried to control her interactions with her family, allegedly monitoring her calls and discouraging her from seeing her sister after she moved in with him.
Edelman defends his documentary as an unfiltered portrait of Prince—both his brilliance and his flaws.
“This was a nine-hour treatment of an artist who was absolutely f***ing brilliant,” he said. “Everything you believe about him—his genius, his music—is in this movie. But you also have to confront his humanity.”