Universal Pictures has officially announced the release date for Atlantis, the musical film inspired by Pharrell Williams’ childhood. Set to hit theaters on May 9, 2025. The film boasts a star-studded ensemble cast of twelve, including Kelvin Harrison Jr. (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers), Brian Tyree Henry (Bullet Train), and Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary).
The cast also features Grammy winner Anderson .Paak, music legend Missy Elliott, Janelle Monáe (Hidden Figures), Tim Meadows (Saturday Night Live), Jayson Lee (61st Street), Jamilah Rosemond (Rustin), and comedian Jaboukie Young-White (C’mon, C’mon). Directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Atlantis promises to be a vibrant exploration of Williams’ formative years growing up in the Atlantis Apartments in Virginia Beach during the summer of 1977.
The coming-of-age story will be brought to life with original songs by Williams, alongside the acclaimed songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known for their award-winning work on La La Land and The Greatest Showman. The screenplay is crafted by Martin Hynes (Toy Story 4) and Tony Award-winning writer Steven Levenson (Dear Evan Hansen).
Williams also serves as a producer on the film, teaming up with Emmy-winning producer Mimi Valdés (Hidden Figures) and two-time Best Picture Oscar nominee Gil Netter (Life of Pi). Executive producers include Matthew Hirsch, Raffi Adlan, Jennie Lee, Shani Saxon, Michael Mayer, and Pasek and Paul.
In addition to Atlantis, fans of Pharrell Williams can look forward to another biopic on the horizon. Williams will star in Piece by Piece, an animated documentary that tells his life story entirely through Lego bricks. This unique project, featuring a superstar voice cast including Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, and Jay-Z, is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) next month and will be released in U.S. theaters on October 11, 2024.
As Atlantis prepares to make its splash, it will face competition from Sony’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, also slated for a May 2025 release.