Pharrell Williams has expressed his admiration for Lego for agreeing to collaborate with him on his upcoming animated documentary, “Piece by Piece,” by declaring, “I’m not Batman.” The renowned musician, aged 51, revealed earlier this year his plans to create an unconventional film detailing his journey to becoming one of the most successful record producers in the industry. Williams, known for producing international hits like “Happy,” “Blurred Lines,” and “Milkshake,” is venturing into filmmaking through this project.
Following the monumental success of The Lego Movie in 2014, Lego has ventured into producing spin-offs such as The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie. Williams, in a pre-screening event of Piece by Piece in Hollywood, expressed his gratitude towards Lego’s head of global entertainment, Jill Wilfert, for supporting his idea to animate a documentary about his life using Lego’s distinctive building blocks style. He highlighted the importance of Lego agreeing to showcase a Black man’s story from a marginalized community.
Williams further elaborated, “Lego could have said no. I’m Black, in case you hadn’t figured that out. But they said yes. I’m not Batman. This is not Harry Potter intellectual property. It’s just me, from Virginia. But they said yes.” In the film, Williams is seen alongside various artists he has collaborated with over the years, including Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, and Busta Rhymes. The documentary, directed by Morgan Neville, known for his award-winning film “20 Feet from Stardom,” offers a unique insight into Williams’ life.
A press release announcing the film stated that Piece by Piece aims to break traditional storytelling norms and transport audiences into a world where imagination knows no bounds. Williams expressed his excitement about the partnership with Neville and Focus, stating, “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?”
Neville shared his enthusiasm for embarking on this creative journey with Williams, highlighting the instant connection he felt with the project. “Piece by Piece” is scheduled for release in the US on October 11 and in the UK on November 8. Williams’ collaborative effort with Lego showcases the power of creativity and storytelling through a unique lens.