According to Variety, Prince‘s estate objected to significant factual inaccuracies and sensationalized portrayals in Ezra Edelman’s initial draft of a Netflix documentary.
Edelman, known for his acclaimed documentary “O.J.: Made in America,” has been working on the Prince film for four years and is said to be “devastated” by the current stalemate. Puck first reported this news.
The agreement for the documentary called for a six-hour series, but Edelman delivered nine hours, a breach of the contract that likely allowed the estate to withhold music rights. Without Prince’s music, the documentary faces severe creative and commercial challenges.
The original deal was made between Netflix and Comerica Bank, the interim executor of Prince’s estate. Edelman, who replaced original director Ava DuVernay, was given extensive access to Prince’s archives and recently produced a cut that was screened for insiders.
Details on the specific inaccuracies are unclear, but sources indicated to Puck that the issues were not related to drug use or sexual matters. Instead, the estate believed certain events were overly dramatized and not accurately fact-checked.
This position reportedly clashed with Edelman’s vision. Other sources suggested to Puck and Variety that the conflict was more about control, with the estate feeling the documentary was not sufficiently positive.
Since Prince died in 2016 without a will, his estate has experienced considerable instability. However, its business efforts gained momentum after the estate moved out of probate in 2022 and was divided into two factions: three of Prince’s six court-determined heirs, represented by attorney and former manager L. Londell McMillan under Prince Legacy, and the other three heirs whose stakes were acquired by Primary Wave Music.
Despite leadership uncertainty, infighting, and legal battles—including a lawsuit by McMillan and Charles Spicer claiming four of Prince’s relatives are trying to seize control of the estate—the partnership has produced several projects. These include a deluxe boxed set of Prince’s 1991 album “Diamonds and Pearls” with unreleased tracks and various efforts related to the 40th anniversary of the “Purple Rain” album and film.
Both factions met the documentary’s first cut with similar negative reactions, although a willingness to compromise is evident. Netflix, McMillan, Primary Wave, and CAA, representing Edelman, declined to comment.