Pharrell Williams Speaks On How Lego Brought His Unique Story To Life For ‘Piece by Piece’

Pharrell Williams recently expressed deep gratitude for the chance to bring his unconventional story to life through the support of Lego. At a screening for his animated documentary Piece by Piece, the 13-time Grammy winner specifically thanked Lego’s head of global entertainment, Jill Wilfert, for taking a risk on his vision.

“She said yes to telling a Black man’s story from a marginalized community," Pharrell shared, as reported by The Independent. "That’s where I come from. It’s my origin story."

Lego, a company known for its family-friendly films, has previously released hits like The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie. Pharrell pointed out that while Lego could have turned him down, they embraced his unique narrative. "I’m not Batman or Harry Potter. I’m just a guy from Virginia, but they said yes."

Set to premiere on October 11, Piece by Piece is an animated biopic that reflects Pharrell’s journey in Lego form. The idea, which Pharrell pitched to director Morgan Neville, serves as a metaphor for his creative approach to life. Speaking to Deadline during the Toronto International Film Festival, he explained, "I didn’t want a traditional documentary. I knew I wanted it in Lego and I knew Morgan was the right storyteller.”

The film also includes appearances from some of Pharrell’s closest collaborators, including Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Gwen Stefani, Busta Rhymes, and Snoop Dogg.