No words can match the legacy of Prince Rogers Nelson, aka Prince, the legendary American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer celebrated for his genre-defying artistry and flamboyant persona. Prince’s documentary, The Book of Prince,
directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman, was a highly anticipated nine-hour project that explored the life of the legendary musician. However, on February 6, Netflix announced it would no longer release the documentary. Instead, the Prince estate would develop a new project featuring exclusive archival content.
A nine-hour labor of love met with resistance; Edelman’s documentary faced censorship battles mirroring Prince’s own fight for creative freedom.
Ezra Edelman’s battle with Netflix and Prince estate for artistic integrity
Ezra Edelman publicly criticized Netflix and Prince’s estate for shelving his documentary after nearly five years of work. Speaking on the Pablo Torre Finds Out
podcast
on March 4, Edelman called the decision “short-sighted
” and accused the estate of prioritizing control over authenticity. He described the situation as “a joke
” and criticized Netflix for being “afraid
” to show Prince’s humanity, suggesting that the streaming service prioritized financial interests over artistic integrity.
Oscar-winning director Ezra Edelman speaks for the first time about Netflix and Prince’s estate mutually agreeing to not release his documentary.
“It’s a joke. … I can’t get past this — the short-sightedness of a group of people whose interest is their own bottom line. They’re… pic.twitter.com/Q8xsIsuRsY
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) March 4, 2025
Edelman revealed the estate returned a 17-page document filled with editorial objections, despite contractual obligations limited to fact-checking. The documentary’s unflinching portrayal of Prince’s life included interviews with former romantic partners who accused him of abuse. Estate lawyer reportedly warned the film could cause “generational harm
” to Prince’s legacy. Edelman, who retained final cut rights, refused demands to shorten the runtime or alter contentious content. Netflix’s decision adds to growing fan frustration over the platform’s history of canceling high-profile projects.
Decades of provocative artistry has collided with a modern-day battle over Prince’s untold story.
Prince’s history of courting controversy
Prince’s career was defined by boundary-pushing music and theatrical flair. Albums like ‘Dirty Mind’ (1980) and ‘Controversy’ (1981) blended explicit themes with funk-rock innovation, earning him the moniker His Royal Badness. Tracks like ‘Head’ and ‘Jack U Off’ sparked debates about decency, yet cemented his reputation as a fearless provocateur.
🎶Prince released his fourth studio album ‘Controversy’ 36 years ago today, October 14, 1981 pic.twitter.com/AOrygzGD2W
— RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow) October 14, 2017
Prince wove political critique into his work. ‘Ronnie, Talk to Russia,’ from ‘Controversy’, took aim at Cold War policies under Ronald Reagan. His 1981 Rolling Stones opening act in Los Angeles ended abruptly when audiences hurled objects at his trench coat-and-bikini ensemble. These clashes underscored his polarizing genius duality of vulnerability and defiance now at the heart of Ezra Edelman’s shelved project.
What do you think about the estate’s decision? Share your thoughts below.
