Pharrell Williams Is Getting An Animated Lego Biopic Directed By Oscar-Winning Filmmaker Morgan Neville
Thirteen-time Grammy-winner and two-time Oscar nominee Pharell Williams will have his life story told in an upcoming animated LEGO biopic titled Piece by Piece, helmed by Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville. The film will be released in U.S. theaters on October 11.
There is a lot packed into that opening paragraph, so feel free to read it again if needed.
In a release announcing the project, Focus Features described the film as:
An unparalleled motion picture experience that captures the magic and brilliance of Pharrell Williams’ creative genius, one Lego brick at a time. Uninterested in making a traditional film about his life, Pharrell set out to tell his story in a way that would set audiences’ imaginations free. Developed from his singular vision, Piece by Piece defies genres and expectations to transport audiences into a Lego world where anything is possible.
Today’s press release did not include information about which animation studio or studios are working on the film or if it will be animated using stop-motion or cg. Cartoon Brew asked the studio for more information, but we were told that only the information in the press release would be shared today.
Piece by Piece is directed by Morgan Neville, the Oscar-winning director of the 2013 documentary 20 Feet from Stardom. Neville is also producing, alongside Caitrin Rogers at Tremolo Productions with Williams, Mimi Valdés, and Shani Saxon for I Am Other. Jill Wilfert and Keith Malone are executive producing for the Lego Group.
In a release accompanying today’s announcement, Neville said:
Five years ago, Pharrell Williams approached me with the idea of helping him tell his story through LEGO animation. It was one of those rare moments where I knew in a second that this was a journey I wanted to go on. I’m grateful to our partners at Focus Features and at the LEGO Group for their belief in our crazy mission. We assembled an incredible team of creative collaborators to help make a new type of film. I can’t wait for people to see it.
Williams added:
When I had this crazy vision to tell this story through Lego bricks, I couldn’t have imagined a better partner than Morgan. He is a legend. Grateful that Focus wanted to collaborate with us, and I’m honored to share this with the world and bring people into my universe. Building with Lego bricks encourages us to follow our imagination… who would’ve thought that playing with these toys as a kid would evolve into a movie about my life? It’s proof that anyone else can do it, too.