Ezra Edelman's 9-Hour Prince Documentary Not Being Released [Updated]

UPDATE: Variety drove the nail in the coffin on the Prince doc, saying the project is “dead in the water” and that it has “dramatic” and “sensationalized” inaccuracies about Prince. Edelman is said “devastated” by the turn of events.

EARLIER: I didn’t even know this “secret” project existed, but it sounds utterly fascinating. A new Netflix documentary about legendary musician Prince might never get released. That’s what Puck’s Matthew Belloni is reporting in a bombshell piece that’s worth a read.

Five years ago, the streamer secured the rights to make the doc from the singer’s estate, but estate control has since changed hands and the documentary is now being blocked by them. The reasons why remain a mystery.

The doc, clocking in at nine hours, was directed by Ezra Edelman who directed the incredible 2016 Oscar-winner “OJ: Made in America.” Edelman’s inclusion means that this Prince documentary could be something very special, and that it won’t sugarcoat anything, which might be why it’s being held up.

Prince’s estate found a loophole in their previous deal with Netflix, which originally stated that the doc would be six hours. Edelman, who came in to replace original director Ava Duvernay, instead turned in a nine-hour film, and now they’re using this as a reason to block it from ever being shown.

Edelman is reportedly not interested in shortening the runtime—and shelving the film indefinitely seems plausible, according to Puck. Prince, a reclusive and mysterious musical genius, died of an accidental drug overdose at just 57 years old.

Edelman hasn’t directed a film since “OJ: Made in America.” It’s been 8 years. I gather he’s been working on this Prince doc for a few years now, it’d be a real shame if we never got to see the finished product. I also sure as hell wouldn’t want his intended nine-hour cut to be shortened by three hours.