Billion Dollar Kanye West Documentary Titled ‘In Whose Name?’ Secretly Filmed

Over the past six years a secret has been kept. A billion dollar secret it seems, with the reveal that a documentary about Kanye West, titled In Whose Name?, has been filmed over the past 6 years. 

A new report from Variety suggests that hidden from everyone in the industry is a gigantic music project, a billion dollar budgeted documentary shrouded in history about Kanye West, one of the industries most important rappers. 

The documentary is produced by Nicolas Ballesteros, Jack M. Russell and Shy Ranje. A synopsis revealed by Variety reads as follows: 

“With a billion-dollar budget and a commitment to truth, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, invites 18-year-old Nicolas Ballesteros armed with an iPhone on a six-year journey revealing unfiltered aspects of celebrity life which confront the provocative opinions, grand visions and bold contrarianism that defined him as the world’s most controversial artist. The film follows Ye’s ascent to becoming the richest Black man in American history while uncovering why the superstar risked everything he had built in the name of freedom. Examining the culture that birthed the star, In Whose Name? explores the overlapping influences of corporate exploitation, racial complexities and psychological struggles inherent in the American dream.”

The film is currently being shopped by Goodfellas and Utopia, with a statement by Utopia Sales VP Marie Zeniter and Goodfellas Head of Sales Eva Diederix stating “We’re thrilled to present In Whose Name? at AFM, this powerful documentary offers an unfiltered view without narration, it invites audiences to draw their own conclusions on themes of fame, religion and power. We believe audiences globally deserve the chance to witness how one of the world’s most influential figures navigates the complexities and contradictions of celebrity.”

The documentary is reportedly being kept deeply under wraps, but due to the filming period will likely follow the time between the releases of Kids See Ghosts, Ye, Jesus Is King, Donda, Donda 2, and the Vultures duology(/trilogy?) as well as the major controversies the star has found himself in over the last half decade. The film will feature exclusive never before seen footage of Ye, and the inner workings of his life, painting a portrait of rap’s most controversial artist.

Previous documentaries have tackled the star’s early life, with three part docu-series Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy tackling his upbringing, first albums, and his rise to fame. 

In Whose Name? stars Kanye West as himself, and is produced by Nicolas Ballesteros, Jack M. Russell and Shy Ranje. The documentary is executive produced by Justin Staple, with David Bullock serving as associate producer. It is currently scheduled for a 2025 theatrical release and is in post-production.

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