Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry Scrap Their Star-Studded Movie Musical GOLDEN in Post-Production

The star-studded movie musical Golden, about the childhood of Pharrell Williams has been permanently shuttered and will not see release in any capacity.

The film, originally titled Atlantis, was directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). It was set for wide theatrical release from Universal Pictures on May 5, though sources say that date was pushed internally last year.

It featured a heavyweight cast of chart toppers and an Oscar winner, including Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Janelle Monáe, Missy Elliott, Quinta Brunson, Anderson .Paak and Jaboukie Young-White.

Universal set up and financed the effort as part of their longstanding creative partnership with Williams (who is notably a composer and performer for the blockbuster Despicable Me franchise).

Multiple sources told Variety that the project was shut down after unanimous agreement from producers and Gondry that the film did not live up to its developed conceit. Gil Netter (The Blind Side) served as producer alongside Williams and his creative partner Mimi Valdes.

Williams and Gondry told Variety in a joint statement:

“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.”

Sources familiar with the situation said Universal will absorb roughly $20 million in costs already spent on production. Three individuals with knowledge of Golden said the film was in early postproduction, meaning it will never be finished but everyone involved has been paid for work completed.