Director of Rejected Netflix Prince Documentary Calls Ordeal A “Joke”

During a recent appearance on the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast, Oscar-winning director Ezra Edelman expressed frustration and disbelief about Netflix deciding to shelve his nine-hour Prince documentary. Last month, the streaming service chose not to release the expansive film about the late music legend, following prolonged disputes with Prince’s estate. Edelman invested five years of his life working on the Prince documentary, after winning an Academy Award for his 2016 doc, O.J.: Made in America. The filmmaker dismissed claims made by Prince’s estate of “dramatic” factual inaccuracies and “sensationalized” renderings of the musician’s life in the documentary, noting that instead of flagging his film for factual errors, they came back with what he describes as “a 17-page document full of editorial issues, not factual issues.” “You think I have any interest in putting out a film that’s factually inaccurate?” Edelman said. The director remains critical of the estate’s decision, while highlighting the missed opportunity to showcase Prince’s brilliance for a new generation. (Rolling Stone)