Ezra Edelman’s Prince Documentary Put On Stall Post Factual Errors And “Sensationalized” Events; Here’s What Reports Say

In the agreed-upon documentary deal, there were plans for a six-hour Prince series. However, Edelman produced nine hours worth of content instead. This deviation from the agreement could potentially enable the estate to deny granting music rights, posing challenges in creating a Prince documentary without his iconic tunes.

In 2018, a previous agreement was struck between Netflix and Comerica Bank, acting as the estate’s temporary administrator, granting Edelman permission to explore Prince’s archives. Recently, an exclusive screening of the resulting film has been shared with select audiences.

The specifics regarding the inaccuracies remain undefined, but reports indicate that the documentary does not revolve around drug use or explicit content. Instead, the estate asserts that certain incidents were overblown and insufficiently verified, a position that Edelman reportedly disagreed with. Other rumors point to the issue being about “control,” with the estate expressing dissatisfaction over the documentary’s portrayal.

In 2018, Netflix and the Prince estate first agreed on a deal for a project, with Ava DuVernay set to direct. Yet, she got replaced later by Ezra Edelman who obtained the rights to use Prince’s music and archives instead.

The estate executors have expressed dissatisfaction with some aspects of the completed documentary, pointing out inaccuracies and alleging sensationalism.

Prince Legacy and Primary Wave Music raises concern over the documentary 

After the unfortunate passing of Prince in 2016 without leaving a will behind, his estate experienced instability. However, significant strides have been made since it exited probate in 2022. The estate has essentially split into two factions: Prince Legacy, led by L. Londell McMillan, and Primary Wave Music, which secured ownership stakes from three of Prince’s heirs.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been closely following the dynamic collaboration between the parties involved, despite the challenges they’ve faced with legal disputes and internal conflicts. Surprisingly enough, this partnership has yielded some amazing outcomes. For instance, we’ve seen the release of an exquisite collector’s edition of Prince’s 1991 album “Diamonds and Pearls.” Additionally, they’ve been working diligently on projects related to the 40th anniversary of his iconic masterpiece, “Purple Rain.” It’s truly fascinating how, even amidst adversity, creativity and innovation continue to thrive.

The New York Post reported that representatives from both sides of Prince’s estate shared apprehensions about the preliminary version of the documentary, despite indications of a readiness to find common ground. A confidential source explained to the New York Post, “Prince was known for putting out nothing but top-quality work. The estate maintains this standard,” further clarifying that the documentary does not accurately depict the iconic musician.

Representatives from Netflix, McMillan, Primary Wave, and CAA, including those representing Edelman, did not provide comments when reached out to by Variety.