Untitled Pharrell Williams musical film | |
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Directed by | Michel Gondry |
Screenplay by | |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Michel Gondry is directing a coming-of-age musical film produced by Pharrell Williams. It draws inspiration from Williams' childhood growing up in Virginia Beach's Atlantis Apartments. The film will star Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Quinta Brunson, Janelle Monáe, Jaboukie Young-White, Tim Meadows, Anderson .Paak, and Missy Elliott.
On March 17, 2017, it was announced that 20th Century Fox was developing a musical film titled Atlantis, which is inspired by Pharrell Williams' childhood growing up in Virginia Beach's Atlantis Apartments. Michael Mayer was set to direct, Martin Hynes was set to write the screenplay, and Williams, Mimi Valdes and Gil Netter were set to produce. [1] [2]
No further updates on the project were announced until March 21, 2024, when Michel Gondry replaced Mayer as the director of the now-untitled film, which moved to Universal Pictures. Steven Levenson was revealed to have written the screenplay with Hynes, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Da'Vine Joy Randolph were cast to lead the film. [3] In April 2024, Halle Bailey, Brian Tyree Henry, and Missy Elliot were cast. [4] [5] [6] In May 2024, Janelle Monáe, Jaboukie Young-White, Tim Meadows, Jamilah Rosemond, and Jayson Lee were cast. [7] [8] In June 2024, Quinta Brunson and Anderson .Paak were cast. [9]
Filming began in June 2024 in Virginia Beach, Virginia where the pier was closed to the public for the shoot, [10] where the cast was seen in 1970s attire. [11]
Melissa Arnette Elliott, also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began on her musical career as a member of the R&B girl group Sista during the 1990s, who were part of the larger musical collective Swing Mob—led by DeVante Swing of Jodeci. The former group's debut album, 4 All the Sistas Around da World (1994) was released by Elektra Records and met with positive critical reception despite commercial failure. She collaborated with album's producer and Swing Mob cohort Timbaland to work in songwriting and production for other acts, yielding commercially successful releases for 702, Aaliyah, SWV, and Total. She then re-emerged as a solo act with numerous collaborations and guest appearances by 1996, and in July of the following year, she released her debut studio album, Supa Dupa Fly (1997).
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