An interesting press-release appeared in the LEGO newsroom, announcing a new film titled PIECE BY PIECE that will be in theaters this fall. Below are the details.
PIECE BY PIECE is 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 audience’s 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. From Focus Features, PIECE BY PIECE was directed by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville and produced by Neville and Caitrin Rogers (Tremolo Productions) alongside producers Pharrell Williams, Mimi Valdés, and Shani Saxon (i am OTHER). Jill Wilfert and Keith Malone are executive producing for the LEGO Group. The film will debut in theaters on October 11, 2024.
Pharrell Williams is a visionary recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur with 10B combined global music streams to date. He has been honored with 13 Grammy Awards, including 2004, 2014, and 2019 Producer of the Year, and ASCAP’s Golden Note Award in 2012. He has received two Academy Award nominations for his original song HAPPY (DESPICABLE ME 2) and for Best Picture-nominated HIDDEN FIGURES (2016) as Producer. Williams also received a Golden Globe Nomination for co-scoring the film. In 2019, Williams received an Emmy nomination for his original song LETTER TO MY GODFATHER, for Netflix’s BLACK GODFATHER about legendary music executive Clarence Avant. In 2020, Williams was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work as the Neptunes.
In 2018, Pharrell narrated Universal’s remake of the classic film THE GRINCH, authored the book A FISH DOESN’T KNOW IT’S WET, and released the Netflix Original series BRAINCHILD (2018) with his producing partner, Mimi Valdés. Other projects include DOPE (2015), ROXANNE ROXANNE (2017), VOICES OF FIRE (2020), and Amazon’s HARLEM, which has been renewed for a third season. In February 2023, Pharrell was named Louis Vuitton’s new Menswear Creative Director.
i am OTHER, a film and television production company founded by Pharrell Williams, is committed to telling stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Under the leadership of Williams and long-time producing partner Mimi Valdés, i am OTHER has produced feature films such as the Sundance favorite DOPE, Academy Award Best Picture nominee HIDDEN FIGURES, and ROXANNE ROXANNE. iaO’s TV credits include BRAINCHILD (Netflix), VOICES OF FIRE (Netflix) and HARLEM (Amazon).
PIECE BY PIECE marks the third collaboration between Focus and Neville, following the documentaries ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN and WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?, which went on to be one of the highest-grossing docs of all time. His additional credits include four Grammy-nominated films: RESPECT YOURSELF: THE STAX RECORDS STORY, MUDDY WATERS: CAN’T BE SATISFIED, JOHNNY CASH’S AMERICA, and THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE, as well as the Emmy-winning BEST OF ENEMIES. In 2014, his film 20 FEET FROM STARDOM won numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Other recent projects include MISS AMERICANA, BONO AND THE EDGE: A SORT OF HOMECOMING, THE SAINT OF SECOND CHANCES, and the series ABSTRACT: THE ART OF DESIGN, SHANGRI-LA, UGLY DELICIOUS, and WATCH THE SOUND WITH MARK RONSON.
Focus Features 2024 slate includes DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS from Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke, BACK TO BLACK about the life and music of Amy Winehouse from director Sam Taylor-Johnson, Robert Eggers’ reimagining of NOSFERATU, Edward Berger’s thriller CONCLAVE, THE BIKERIDERS from director Jeff Nichols, Zelda William’s feature directorial debut LISA FRANKENSTEIN written by Diablo Cody, Kobi Libii’s satirical comedy THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES, Baltasar Kormákur’s romantic drama TOUCH, and Goran Stolevski’s next feature, HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS, among others.
Focus Features Chairman Peter Kujawski said; “Pharrell Williams is a true trailblazer whose influence across music, art, and fashion continually reshapes global culture with an undeniable sense of joy. In partnering with the inimitable Morgan Neville and the limitless creativity of the LEGO brand his visionary spirit comes to life in a wholly unique and uplifting way that will inspire everyone to dance, to sing, and to use their voice to build the world they want to see, brick by brick, and piece by piece.”
Morgan Neville added; “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.”
“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,” said Pharrell Williams. “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.”
Jill Wilfert, Senior Vice President of Entertainment Partners and Content, at the LEGO Group, added; “Pharrell is a true visionary and is someone who continually pushes the boundaries of what creativity means; something very close to our hearts here at the LEGO Group. We believe the LEGO brick is the ultimate creative medium, allowing people to build, unbuild, and rebuild in as many ways as they can imagine, mirroring how Pharrell has continually innovated in his own life. Getting the opportunity to partner with him; with an incredible storyteller like Morgan Neville; and the wonderful team at Focus Features has been truly inspiring. The combined creativity of Pharrell and the LEGO brick is truly something special to see come together.”
Williams alongside i am OTHER, Neville and the PIECE BY PIECE film are represented by WME.
What do you think? How do you like the idea of a new LEGO film? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below!
I have no idea who Pharrell Williams is and the biography in the press release doesn’t change that. I’m not sure if the point here is “a movie about Pharrell Williams, but it’s done in Lego” or “it’s a Lego movie, but it’s about Pharrell Williams”.
I wonder if this will end up with the same issue the Barbie movie had, in that everybody expects a movie for kids because of the toy branding involved, except it turns out to not at all be a movie for kids.
Well, that’s different. I also have no idea who this guy is and who is the target audience.
I kinda knew who Pharrell Williams was beforehand, as an old hip hop fan. The press release does come across as rather self-glorifying, though…
I read this guy’s Wikipedia page. He seems accomplished, but I don’t see anything about his life that stands out as a subject for a movie. I have no idea how they will approach this.
Isn’t this guy one of the judges on the voice? Who always wears a hat?
I don’t know what to make of this press release. Like others said, I have no idea who this guy is or how they are going to make a Lego movie about him. Strange.
His song Happy was stuck in my brain for a while when it first came out. Then Weird Al made a parody of it, Tacky, which is even more catchy than the original. And funnier too.
He is a hip hop artist and a fashion icon. And he is great at discovering new talent. But I have not idea how that’s connected to Lego.