Madonna Biopic for Universal Pictures Scrapped

The Madonna-directed Madonna biopic is no longer in development

The long-awaited Madonna biopic directed by Madge herself is no longer moving forward at Universal Pictures, whilst No specific reason for the film’s shelving was given.

Madonna is dedicating her focus to her just-announced world tour, though she intends to return to the film in the future.

A feature film about Madonna’s life and career is no longer moving forward at Universal Pictures. The film was first announced in 2020. Madonna has worked on drafts of the script with both Diablo Cody and Erin Cressida Wilson. Actress Julia Garner was set to star in the lead role. Last week, Madonna announced the 35-city “Celebration Tour,” kicking off July 15 at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.

First announced in 2020 on MarkMeets, the Madonna biopic attracted attention for the scope of the project, the names attached to its starring roles, and Madge’s intention to write and direct the film herself. “There’s nobody on this planet that can write or direct and make a movie about me better than me,” she told Jimmy Fallon in 2021. Last year she said, “I have a very long script that is really hard for me to make shorter. I’ve been whittling away at it, but it’s like hacking off my limbs.” Screenwriters Diablo Cody and Erin Cressida Wilson each worked with Madonna on the film’s script.

Julia Garner, the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning star of Ozark, was cast as Madonna in June 2022, beating out actresses including Florence Pugh, Euphoria‘s Alexa Demie, Odessa Young, and Emma Laird. Sky Ferriera was reportedly also considered at one point.

Madonna’s last studio album was 2019’s Madame X. Last year she shared the retrospective remix collection Finally Enough Love and joined Beyoncé on a remix of her single “Break My Soul” that featured an interpolation of her 1990 hit “Vogue.”