Netflix Shelves Prince Doc for Estate-Approved Project

Filmmaker Ezra Edelman is criticizing Netflix's decision to shelve his nine-hour documentary 'The Book of Prince', which was replaced by an estate-approved project. Edelman, known for his Oscar-winning documentary 'O.J.: Made in America', spent five years on the documentary, which included interviews and archival footage depicting both Prince's brilliance and alleged abusive behavior. Edelman claims the Prince estate returned a document with editorial demands rather than factual corrections, reflecting a struggle over control of the narrative. He expressed frustration that Netflix prioritized the estate's wishes, fearing that the documentary's portrayal of Prince's humanity might harm his legacy. Edelman likened the situation to the artist's own battles for creative freedom, noting the irony given Prince's history of fighting against control from record labels. The filmmaker asserts that the documentary would have offered a comprehensive view of Prince’s genius despite its uncomfortable truths.