The musical film about Pharrell Williams’ childhood, Golden, has officially been shelved and will not be released in any capacity, despite having completed production, Variety confirmed.
The Michel Gondry-directed movie, originally titled Atlantis, was inspired by Pharrell’s coming-of-age story in Virginia Beach during the 1970s. It featured an all-star cast, including Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Brian Tyree Henry, Janelle Monáe, Missy Elliott, Quinta Brunson, Anderson .Paak, Jaboukie Young-White, and recent Oscar-winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
However, after extensive review in post-production, the film’s creative team unanimously agreed that it failed to meet their original vision.
“When all of us got into the editing room, we collectively decided there wasn’t a path forward to tell the version of this story that we originally envisioned. We appreciate all the hard work of the talented cast and crew. While we’re disappointed we can’t deliver this film, we have incredible partners at Universal and will collaborate in a different capacity again soon,” Williams and Gondry said in a joint statement.
Universal Pictures originally planned to release Golden on May 5, 2025, continuing its longstanding creative partnership with Williams, who has been an integral part of the Despicable Me franchise as a composer and performer. The film was fully financed by the studio and marked an ambitious collaboration between Williams, Gondry, and producer Gil Netter (“The Blind Side”).
Despite the film’s star-studded lineup and high expectations, sources say that the final product failed to align with its intended creative vision, leading Universal to abandon any potential theatrical, streaming, or resale efforts. The studio will not attempt to shop the film to other buyers.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
