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Piece by Piece (2024 film)

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Piece by Piece
Teaser poster
Directed byMorgan Neville
Produced by
Starring
Music byPharrell Williams
(songs and themes)
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
  • October 11, 2024 (2024-10-11)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Piece by Piece is an upcoming American animated biographical musical comedy-drama film directed by Morgan Neville. It tells the story of the life and career of American musician Pharrell Williams (who stars, co-produces, and contributes original music) in the style of Lego animation. A co-production between The Lego Group, Williams' own I Am Other, and Neville's Tremolo Productions, it will be the fifth theatrical Lego film and the first following the end of Warner Bros. Pictures's run of its film series, beginning Universal Pictures's run as holder of the Lego film rights. Alongside Williams, it stars Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg.

Piece by Piece is scheduled to be released theatrically on October 11, 2024, by Focus Features in the United States and Universal Pictures internationally.

Premise[edit]

Described as a "unique cinematic experience", Piece by Piece follows the "vibrant" journey and "evolution" of musician Pharrell Williams.[1]

Voice cast[edit]

Neville, N.O.R.E., and Daft Punk also make appearances as themselves. Audio footage from Colin Clive in Frankenstein (1931) is used in the film.

Production[edit]

In November 2018, Variety reported that Illumination had plans to make a new animated film with the studio's frequent musical collaborator Pharrell Williams that would be "made from scratch".[2] In January 2024, it was announced that Focus Features, Tremolo Productions, and I Am Other were developing an animated biographical film about the life and career of Williams in the style of Lego animation. Morgan Neville had been hired to direct, with Williams producing and Pure Imagination Studios serving as the animation studio and exec producing. Williams was not interested in making a "traditional" biopic, but rather convey the story in a more imaginative and "genre-defying" way, where audiences would "immerse in a world where the possibilities are endless".[3] The film was created in collaboration with Pure Imagination Studios and "creator platform" Tongal.[4]

Prior to the announcement, the film had been in development for about five years.[5] Williams approached Neville with the idea for the film in early 2019, to which Neville agreed to help develop the project.[6][7] Williams would recall, "I never really wanted to do it, but when I was given the opportunity to do a documentary any way I wanted, and Morgan raised his hand, it was like, "OK, this could be interesting"."[8] Williams composed original music for the project.[8]

On June 6, 2024, Pharrell Williams, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and Busta Rhymes were revealed to be cast in the film.[9] In an interview published that day with Variety, Neville revealed that Daft Punk also appear in the film.[8]

Marketing[edit]

Announced on January 26, 2024, Williams posted the film's poster to his Instagram account as part of the announcement.[10] On June 6, 2024, Focus Features and Williams revealed the first trailer for the film.[8] It features Lego Williams and director Neville in a sit-down interview, which then transitions to Williams narrating his career highlights.[11] Writing for USA Today, Brendan Morrow observed that "the project look(s) like a unique mix of an animated film and a documentary".[12]

Release[edit]

Piece by Piece is scheduled to be released in the United States by Focus Features on October 11, 2024.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Piece by Piece". Focus Features. June 6, 2024. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Lang, Brent (November 6, 2018). "Inside Illumination's Plans for Animated 'Super Mario Bros.' Movie". Variety. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Earl, William (January 26, 2024). "Pharrell Williams Creating a Lego Animated Biopic With Focus Features". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  4. ^ VanHoose, Benjamin (June 6, 2024). "Pharrell Williams Tells His Life Story Through LEGO Animation in Piece by Piece Trailer". People. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Curto, Justin (January 26, 2024). "Pharrell Is Stacking (Lego) Bricks for His Biopic". Vulture. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  6. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 26, 2024). "Pharrell Williams Lego Movie 'Piece By Piece' About Singer's Life Getting Fall Release From Focus Features". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (January 26, 2024). "Pharrell Williams Announces Lego-Inspired Biopic 'Piece by Piece' at Focus Features". IndieWire. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d Jackson, Angelique (June 6, 2024). "Pharrell Williams Debuts Trailer for His Lego Animated Biopic 'Piece by Piece' — and Teases Two New Tracks". Variety. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  9. ^ Seemayer, Zach (June 6, 2024). "Pharrell Williams Biopic: First 'Piece by Piece' Trailer Features Gwen Stefani, JAY-Z and More". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Williams, Kyann-Sian (June 6, 2024). "Pharrell Williams tells us about his biopic in LEGO, 'Piece By Piece': "This is an amazing experience of history for me"". NME. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Morrow, Brendan (June 6, 2024). "'Piece by Piece' trailer tells Pharrell Williams' story in LEGO form: 'A new type of film'". USA Today. Retrieved June 6, 2024.

External links[edit]

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