Pharrell Williams dreams of stars with Lego

Pharrell Williams must never get bored. When the artist and music producer isn’t working on Louis Vuitton’s forthcoming menswear collections, he’s busy with side projects.

If it’s not on a sneaker model with Adidas or the launch of a jewellery line with Tiffany & Co (also owned by the LVMH group), it’s with Lego that the American is leading a major project.

On Wednesday evening in Paris, the Espace Niemeyer, the former headquarters of the French Communist Party, was transformed into the interior of a space shuttle, with electric blue light reflected from the ceiling and giant Lego cosmonauts enthroned at the heart of the immense conference room. In the adjoining areas, behind large windows, children of all ages were busy assembling a space shuttle using hundreds of multicoloured bricks.

“I can’t remember if the project started with the creation of the Lego set or the film,” wondered Pharrell Williams, dressed in a pink sweater and baggy Louis Vuitton jeans, in conversation with Alero Akuya, Lego’s vice-president in charge of brand development, in front of the guests, press, influencers and artists, seated comfortably in front of the stage.

In fact, the Lego space shuttle presented during the evening will be offered by the toy brand to accompany the launch of the film. A surprising project: this animated Lego film will retrace the life of the American star. A story in which space plays a key role. “When I was four or five, living with my mother, I was fascinated by the universe,’ recalls Pharrell Williams. I wanted to know why this star was blue and that star was blinking. What fascinated me was that even if I got answers, every night there was something new to discover.”

The film will be released in October across the Atlantic and, in addition to childhood memories, will tackle the issues of diversity and respect for men and women dear to the American star, as well as his vision that dreams are attainable. “I didn’t think my story could be made into a film,” he recalls. “But I still pinch myself every day to be sure of what I’m living. I wish that for every child. In fact, it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. The things you want are waiting for you. Don’t let people stop you.” A message of achievement that will be shared in his Lego biopic Piece by Piece.