Untitled Pharrell Williams musical film

Produced byStarringDistributed byUniversal PicturesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Michel Gondry is directing a coming-of-age musical film produced by Pharrell Williams, tentatively titled Atlantis. Set in 1977, the film is semi-autobiographical and draws inspiration from Williams' childhood growing up in Virginia Beach's Atlantis Apartments.^[1] The film will star Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Quinta Brunson, Janelle Monáe, Jaboukie Young-White, Tim Meadows, Anderson .Paak, and Missy Elliott.

• Kelvin Harrison Jr.
• Halle Bailey
• Da'Vine Joy Randolph
• Brian Tyree Henry
• Quinta Brunson
• Janelle Monáe
• Jaboukie Young-White
• Tim Meadows
• Anderson .Paak
• Missy Elliott
• Jamilah Rosemond
• Jayson Lee

On March 27, 2017, it was announced that 20th Century Fox was developing a musical film titled Atlantis, which is inspired by Pharrell Williams' childhood growing up in Virginia Beach's Atlantis Apartments. Michael Mayer was set to direct, Martin Hynes was set to write the screenplay, and Williams, Mimi Valdés and Gil Netter were set to produce.^[2][3]

No further updates on the project were announced until March 21, 2024, when Michel Gondry replaced Mayer as the director of the now-untitled film, which moved to Universal Pictures. Steven Levenson was revealed to have written the screenplay with Hynes, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Da'Vine Joy Randolph were cast to lead the film.^[4] In the following months, Halle Bailey, Brian Tyree Henry, and Missy Elliot were cast in April,^[5][6][7] Janelle Monáe, Jaboukie Young-White, Tim Meadows, Jamilah Rosemond, and Jayson Lee were cast in May,^[8][9] and Quinta Brunson and Anderson .Paak were cast in June.^[10]

Filming began in June 2024 in Virginia Beach, Virginia where the pier was closed to the public for the shoot,^[11] where the cast was seen in 1970s attire.^[12]