The upcoming cinematic musical project based on the life of Pharrell Williams is one step closer to getting underway after announcing the completion of its casting process.
Already featuring an all-star lineup including Brian Tyree Henry, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Halle Bailey, Janelle Monae, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Missy Elliott, the Universal Pictures produced project recently added Jaboukie Young-White (“Rap Sh!t”), Jamilah Rosemond (Rustin), Jayson Lee (“61st Street”), and veteran actor/comedian Tim Meadows (The Ladies Man, Mean Girls) to round out the cast.
Billed as a musical collaboration between Williams and director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), the currently untitled movie is slated to be a coming-of-age story set in 1977 Virginia Beach and “draws inspiration from Williams’ childhood growing up in the city’s Atlantis Apartments.”
“A talented young musician who thinks he’s left his dreams behind him suddenly gets the breaks that suggest he could pursue a professional music career, but must find the courage to let go of his hard-earned security,” reads the official synopsis.
Written by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson, Williams will produce the project through his i am OTHER production company along with Mimi Valdes and Gil Netter Productions.
In addition to showcasing the Virginia of yesteryear in which Pharrell grew up, the film will also be beneficial to modern day Virginia as it is slated to result in hundreds of jobs for Virginia residents and net the state an estimated windfall of nearly $85 million.
“This project is about community in Virginia, and the final product will showcase just that both on and off the screen,” producers promised in their production application to the state.
With the cast all set, production on the musical project is set to begin this summer.
Also in development for the 51-year-old music maestro is an animated documentary called “Piece by Piece,” which is described as a Lego-based depiction of Williams’ life. Oscar-award winning director Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) is slated to direct the avant-garde film scheduled to be released on October 11.
