News

Michel Gondry and Pharrell Williams are headed for Atlantis.

That’s the official title of their upcoming high-profile musical for Universal that will theaters on May 9, 2025, the studio revealed Thursday.

Universal also announced that the film will feature songs by Williams and by the Tony-, Oscar- and Grammy-winning team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (The Greatest Showman, La La Land).

The coming-of-age story is set in Virginia Beach during the summer of 1977 and is inspired by the Atlantis Apartments, the neighborhood where Williams grew up. Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep) is directing from a script by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson.

The previously revealed star-studded cast includes Janelle Monáe, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Missy Elliott, Tim Meadows, Jayson Lee, Anderson .Paak, HeJayson Lee, Jamilah Rosemond and Jaboukie Young-White.

Atlantis is produced by Williams, Emmy winner Mimi Valdés (Hidden Figures,...

Universal has dated the Pharrell Williams-Michel Gondry musical feature Atlantis for May 9, 2025.

The pic is based on Williams’ childhood at the Virginia Beach Atlantis Apartments during the summer of 1977.

Piece by Piece, the Focus Features biopic about Williams told through Lego animation and directed by Morgan Neville, is making its world premiere at Telluride this week.

Atlantis is directed by Gondry from a screenplay by Martin Hynes (Toy Story 4) and the Tony award winning writer of Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen and the film adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick … Boom!, Steven Levenson. Williams penned the songs along with near Egot-winning Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Williams produces with Emmy winner Mimi Valdés (EP of Hidden Figures and the series Harlem) and two-time Best Picture Oscar nominee Gil Netter.

EPs are Matthew Hirsch, Raffi Adlan, Jennie Lee, Shani Saxon, Michael Mayer,...

Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry’s star-studded musical film now has its title and release date. Universal Pictures will release “Atlantis” wide on May 9, 2025.

While plot details remain under wraps, the film is described as an expedition into the summer of 1977 in the Virginia Beach neighborhood inspired by the Atlantis Apartments of Williams’ childhood.

The all-star cast includes Kelvin Harrison Jr., Halle Bailey, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Quinta Brunson, Anderson .Paak, Janelle Monáe, Tim Meadows, Jayson Lee, Jamilah Rosemond, Jaboukie Young-White and Missy Elliott.

Academy Award-winning “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “The Science of Sleep” filmmaker Gondry directs a screenplay by Martin Hynes (“Toy Story 4″) and Steven Levenson.

The coming-of-age film features songs by Williams and the decorated musical duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. “Atlantis” is produced by Williams, Mimi Valdés and Gil Netter.

The film is executive produced by Matthew Hirsch, Raffi Adlan, Jennie Lee,...

Exclusive: Universal Pictures’ untitled coming-of-age musical from director Michel Gondry and producer Pharrell Williams has two new additions, the studio announced on Wednesday: Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of hit ABC comedy Abbott Elementary, and eight-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak.

No character details have been disclosed. Set in Virginia Beach in the summer of 1977, the film pays homage to the neighborhood where Williams grew up, and its Atlantis Apartments, in particular.

As previously announced, Kelvin Harrison Jr. leads an ensemble that also includes Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Halle Bailey, Brian Tyree Henry, Missy Elliott, Janelle Monáe, Tim Meadows, Jaboukie Young-White, Jamilah Rosemond and Jayson Lee.

Written by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson, the film’s being produced by Williams and Mimi Valdés for i am Other, as well as Gil Netter for Netter Films. Universal’s Senior Vice President of Production Development Ryan Jones and Director of Production Development Christine Sun...

Exclusive: Universal Pictures has rounded out the cast of its coming-of-age musical teaming director Michel Gondry and producer Pharrell Williams with four additions: Tim Meadows (Dream Scenario), Jaboukie Young-White (C’mon C’mon), Jamilah Rosemond (Rustin) and Jayson Lee (61st Street).

Details as to the roles of the newcomers are under wraps, as all roles so far have been. Set in Virginia Beach in the summer of 1977, the untitled film is inspired by the neighborhood where Williams grew up, and its Atlantis Apartments, in particular.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. leads an ensemble that also includes Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Halle Bailey, Brian Tyree Henry, Missy Elliott, and Janelle Monáe.

Written by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson, the musical will be produced by Williams and Mimi Valdés for i am Other, as well as Gil Netter for Gil Netter Productions. Universal’s Senior Vice President of Production Development Ryan Jones and Director of...

Colman Domingo is demanding the spotlight for his next film role. The "Candyman" and "Euphoria" actor portrays queer civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in Netflix's upcoming biopic, "Rustin." Per the streamer, the movie will chronicle Rustin's rise as the "architect of 1963's momentous March on Washington," where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. According to the movie's trailers, which arrived on Aug. 28 and Oct. 19, "Rustin" is also expected to spotlight some of the obstacles the titular figure faced during his lifetime, including police brutality and criticism over his sexuality.

Rustin, known as one of the greatest organizers in history, "challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired," per Netflix. And though he made history, the influential figure's accomplishments have seemingly been forgotten - until now.

In addition to Domingo, "Rustin," directed by George C. Wolfe,...

Netflix released the teaser trailer and poster for Rustin on the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington. Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead) stars as gay civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, the man who organized the march and whose place in history has been largely overlooked since the 1963 march.

“We are committed to the cause of altering the trajectory of this country towards freedom. They either believe in freedom and justice for all – or they do not,” states Domingo as Rustin in the first teaser for the awards-season release.

Joining SAG award nominee Colman Domingo (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) are Emmy winner Chris Rock as Roy Wilkins, Emmy winner Glynn Turman as A. Philip Randolph, Aml Ameen as Martin Luther King Jr., Gus Halper, Emmy nominee Cch Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, and Lilli Kay. The talented ensemble also includes Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Powell,...

For Black activists, marching toward freedom in the 1960s meant navigating roadblocks and visceral hatred in order to stand for what was right. In the official teaser trailer for Netflix’s Rustin, Colman Domingo embarks on this journey through the lens of March on Washington architect Bayard Rustin. For the civil rights activist and organizer, his identity as a Black, gay man was never something to be explained away or apologized for. In fact, it only fueled his power.

“On August 28, Black, white, young, old, rich, working-class, poor, will descend on Washington,...

My fellow Colman Domingo fans, we have much to look forward to. After lending his voice to computer-generated characters in both "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" and "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" earlier this year, the celebrated "If Beale Street Could Talk" and "Euphoria" star will be back in live-action a big way over the coming months, starting with his performance in the biopic "Rustin."

If you don't know the name Bayard Rustin, well, you're not alone. A key figure in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, Rustin was essentially the architect of the 1963 March on Washington in which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. He's typically been overlooked (if not completely erased) in public school curriculums due to the fact that he was gay, which also led to him advising people like King from behind closed doors rather than serving openly as one of the faces of the movement itself.

Bringing two projects to Toronto International Film Festival (and likely would’ve been a trio if a certain film didn’t get delayed), Colman Domingo is poised for a major fall. Before The Color Purple arrives at the end of the year, he’ll also be seen in George C. Wolfe’s Rustin and Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing, both headed to the Canadian Festival. As scripted by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black, the first trailer has now arrived for his Bayard Rustin biopic ahead of a theatrical and Netflix release this November.

Here’s the synopsis: “The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten.

Netflix has released the trailer for Rustin, which chronicles the events of the significant historical figure who was an activist for racial equality in the 1960s. The trailer showcases his rallying of Martin Luther King Jr., Ella Baker, and Clayton Powell Jr. as they motivate the nation to unite in a monumental gesture against oppression. The film sports an impressive cast that includes the acting talents of Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, Cch Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, Lilli Kay, Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Powell, Grantham Coleman, Jamilah Rosemond, Jules Latimer, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, Frank Harts, Kevin Mambo, Carra Patterson, Bill Irwin, Cotter Smith, Adrienne Warren, with Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald.

The official synopsis from Netflix reads,

The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority,...

The first trailer for Rustin, Netflix’s upcoming film about the life and work of Bayard Rustin, the openly gay Black civil rights leader and architect of 1963’s March on Washington, promises to put an end to the history of erasure around the visionary’s legacy.

Released Monday, on the official 60th anniversary of the historic freedom march, the first look captures the passionate, profound and often tumultuous journey of one of the country’s most significant civil rights activists, socialists, pacifists, labor unionists and gay rights advocates. Directed by DGA award and five-time Tony winner George C. Wolfe, Domingo — in his first leading feature film role — embodies the radical voice and fixture of the 20th-century fight for equality and justice in American democracy.

Rustin was an organizer who advised Martin Luther King Jr. on the historic march and gathering — an eight-week endeavor, according to the trailer. His refusal to apologize for who he was,...

Netflix has released a set of first-look images from the upcoming feature on the visionary civil rights activist who was a close advisor to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘Rustin.’

The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, and never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten.

(L to R) Michael Potts as Cleve Robinson, Aml Ameen as Martin Luther King, Chris Rock as NAACP Exec. Dir. Roy Wilkins and Glynn Turman as A Philip Randolph. Cr. David Lee/Netflix © 2022 (L to R) Aml Ameen as Martin Luther King and Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin. Cr. David Lee/Netflix © 2022

Directed by DGA Award and five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe...