Universal Pulls Plug on Pharrell Biopic

Did you guys know that there was a second Pharrell movie in the works? Directed by Michelle Gondry no less? We did not.

The film was supposed to hit theaters via Universal Pictures on May 5, but internal sources claim that the date was pushed sometime last year. The star-studded cast included Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Janelle Monáe, Missy Elliott, Quinta Brunson, Anderson .Paak, and Jaboukie Young-White.

Williams and Gondry shared a joint statement to Variety:

When all of us got into the editing room we collectively decided there wasn’t a path forward to tell the version of this story that we originally envisioned. We appreciate all the hard work of the talented cast and crew. While we’re disappointed we can’t deliver this film, we have incredible partners at Universal and will collaborate in a different capacity again soon.

Universal has reportedly absorbed as much as a $20 million loss on costs tied to the production.