The 'Musafa' actor who was supposed to be the lead star in the movie about Pharrell Williams weighed in on the studio's decision to call of the big-screen project.
- Mar 16, 2025
AceShowbiz - Kelvin Harrison Jr. was supposed to play lead role in the highly-anticipated Pharrell Williams biopic "Golden", but the project was scrapped. Now the 30-year-old actor, shared his thoughts about Universal Pictures' decision to abandon the film.
"It's always sad when you've invested your time into something, and I was really excited about that story," Harrison Jr. told Us Weekly at the Searchlight Pictures "O'Dessa" special screening red carpet in New York City.
He elaborated on his feelings about the project, "I got to work with all these amazing actors that I love so much, and artists that I admired and looked up to... But ultimately, I still have the memory, and I still grew a lot and I learned a lot from the experience."
The film was set to feature a star-studded cast including Missy Elliott, Anderson .Paak, Janelle Monae, and many others. It aimed at capturing a crucial chapter of Williams' childhood, with the acclaimed director Michel Gondry at the helm.
Despite having an initial May 5 release date, "Golden" was permanently shelved by the studio in February 2025. According to Variety, the decision came after "unanimous agreement from producers and Gondry that the film did not live up to its developed conceit."
Williams and Gondry shared in a joint statement, "When all of us got into the editing room we collectively decided there wasn't a path forward to tell the version of this story that we originally envisioned..."
"We appreciate all the hard work of the talented cast and crew. While we're disappointed we can't deliver this film, we have incredible partners at Universal and will collaborate in a different capacity again soon."
Harrison Jr. appeared to have made peace with the outcome, telling Us, "I know as much as you guys do... For now, I'm just at peace with their decision."
While fans may never have the chance to witness "Golden", Harrison Jr. remains optimistic and enthusiastic about his upcoming projects. "O'Dessa" promises to be a genre-bending and gender-bending tale.
"It's a unique love story," he said about the story of a farm girl on an epic quest in a post-apocalyptic future. Harrison Jr. is eager for audiences to experience the film's diverse styles and music.
With a passion for storytelling, despite the setbacks, there's plenty more to come from this talented actor.
