First Look at Halle Bailey in Pharrell Williams's New Film 'Golden'

We’ve got a first look at Halle Bailey in Pharrell Williams and Michel Gondry’s new film, Golden. In the shot, she’s holding hands with her co-star, Kelvin Harrison Jr., who plays a character based on Williams in the film.

Golden is a coming-of-age musical set in 1977, inspired by Pharrell’s childhood in Virginia Beach’s Atlantis Apartments—a place after which the movie was originally titled, Atlantis.

Williams decided to change the name to Golden because he felt it was more fitting, as he views everything from that time as “golden.” The new title also resonates with a wider audience, evoking feelings of nostalgia and childhood memories.

Talking to Empire about the film, Williams described it as follows:

“You know how in Dirty Dancing and Grease, the music was almost a character? That’s what it’s like in this film. It’s a coming-of-age story about self-discovery and pursuing your dreams, but it’s so much more magical than that. It’s a celebration of Black life, Black culture, and most importantly, Black joy.”

In the same interview, he compared Golden to his previous film, Piece by Piece, which focused more on his personal life. In contrast, Golden centers on the neighborhood he grew up in and the era as a whole.

Besides Bailey and Harrison Jr., the cast includes Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brian Tyree Henry, Quinta Brunson, Janelle Monáe, Jaboukie Young-White, Tim Meadows, Anderson .Paak, Missy Elliott, and more.

Bailey didn’t have a single movie released this year, likely because she was busy being a mom and making music. However, 2023 saw her in some of her most prominent roles yet. She starred as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, followed by roles in The Line and The Color Purple.

Golden is set to release on May 9, 2025, so mark your calendars and catch Halle Bailey on the silver screen again!