Boasting an array of business ventures alongside his music, including acting, fashion, entertainment and charity enterprises, Pharrell Williams’ ambitious streak has perhaps reached its apex now that Fox are making a film-musical about his childhood. Apparently, a simple feature film was not enough for the ostentatious RnB artist, warranting a full-blown musical to be written, with the storyline said to be closely echoing Romeo and Juliet'.
It’s called Atlantis.
It might sound like a mythical tale about an under-water kingdom to us, but the story will in fact recount Pharrell’s upbringing in east coast Virginia Beach, where he was raised in a housing project called ‘Atlantis Apartments’, playing music every day. Home to the longest pleasure beach in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the star’s hometown certainly doesn’t sound too shabby.
The musical film is set to be as cheesy as it will be successful, after all, La La Land, grossed $427m, and Beauty and The Beast has generated nearly $700m worldwide after just one week. So that’s why he’s chosen the musical genre…
Not to be negative, we’ve loved Pharrell ever since his N.E.R.D. days, right through to his judging stint on American The Voice. Although there have been no leaks as to who will play the lead, we know the director will be Michael Mayer, who directed Spring Awakening on Broadway, and the screenwriter is to be prolific screenwriter Martin Hynes, whose credits include upcoming* Toy Story 4*.
With Pharrell having written several of the songs for the film himself, this movie-musical is set to add another huge notch to his already versatile belt.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.