| Golden | |
| Director: | Michel Gondry |
| Cinematography: | Lachlan Milne |
| Distributor: | Universal Pictures |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Golden is an upcoming American coming-of-age musical film directed by Michel Gondry and co-produced by Pharrell Williams from a screenplay by Martin Hynes and Steven Levenson. Set in 1977, the film is semi-autobiographical and draws inspiration from Williams' childhood growing up in Virginia Beach's Atlantis Apartments.[1] It 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, Missy Elliott, and Andre 3000.
Golden is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 9, 2025, by Universal Pictures.
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, who would later move to an executive producer position, 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 then-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,[5] Brian Tyree Henry,[6] and Missy Elliott[7] were cast in April, Janelle Monáe,[8] Tim Meadows, Jaboukie Young-White, Jamilah Rosemond, and Jayson Lee were cast in May,[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] and the cast was seen in 1970s attire.[12] On August 29, 2024, the original title of Atlantis was confirmed for the film. In November 2024, the film had been retitled to Golden.[13]
On August 29, 2024, it was announced that Pharrell Williams would be writing songs for the film alongside Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The film marks the latter duo's reuniting with co-screenwriter Steven Levenson following their work on the controversial 2021 film adaptation of their stage musical Dear Evan Hansen.[14]
Golden is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 9, 2025.