Missy Elliott is joining Universal Pictures’untitled Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry musical project.
She joins Halle Bailey, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Oscar nominee Brian Tyree Henry and Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph in a coming-of-age musical set in Virginia Beach in the summer of 1977 and inspired by the Atlantis Apartments, located in Williams’ childhood neighborhood.
Michel Gondry (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,”“The Science of Sleep”) is set to direct the project based on a script by Martin Hynes (“Toy Story 4,”“The Magician’s Elephant”) and Steven Levenson (“Tick, Tick…Boom,”“Fosse/Verdon”).
Williams and Mimi Valdés will produce through i am OTHER and Gil Netter will produce through Gil Netter Productions.
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Universal’s senior VP of production development, Ryan Jones, and director of production development, Christine Sun, will oversee the project for the studio.
The project marks Elliott’s first time back on the big screen since her voiceover work in DreamWorks’ 2004 animated film “Shark Tale,” for which she performed a cover of “Car Wash” alongside Christina Aguilera. She previously had a cameo as herself in the Jessica Alba-led 2003 dance film “Honey.”
On television, Elliott appeared on two episodes of Fox’s musical drama “Star” in 2017. In 2023, she became the first female rapper in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2021.
Elliott has won four Grammys and sold more than 30 million records worldwide since she burst onto the scene in the mid-1990s. She has released six studio albums and continues to collaborate with major artists like Ariana Grande and Lizzo.
Elliott is set to hit the road this summer for Out of This World: The Missy Elliott Experience Tour, her first-ever headline tour. She’ll be accompanied by her longtime co-stars Busta Rhymes, Ciara and special guest Timbaland.
Elliott is repped by Mona Scott-Young / Monami Management.
