Julia Garner has confirmed that the long-awaited Madonna biopic, in which she is slated to portray the iconic singer, is still in development. Addressing concerns about the project's delay, she assured fans that "anything that’s great…takes a long time."
Garner, best known for her roles in Ozark and Inventing Anna, was initially reported to have been cast as the "Material Girl" singer back in 2022. However, the project was subsequently put on hold, leaving its future uncertain. In a recent interview, Garner clarified that the film is "supposed to still happen."
The actress revealed that she had been a Madonna fan since childhood and felt compelled to audition for the role as soon as she learned about the biopic. Speaking on the SmartLess podcast, she recounted her initial involvement: "It just came about… like I knew that they were doing a project, making a movie about it, and then I went out to audition. I kind of just wanted to see if I could do it."
Garner, who has no formal dance training, had to learn how to dance and then demonstrate her skills in front of Madonna herself, as well as sing with her, to "convince" the 66-year-old singer that she was capable of handling the role.
Describing the daunting experience, Garner explained that she channelled Madonna's persona during the audition process. "Which is like convince you that she deserves to be in this room. And I owned it. I was like, 'You can take it or leave it, but if you leave it, if I leave, then that’s on you.'" she said.
Madonna herself revealed last year that she was working on a new draft of the script for the biopic, which is expected to be titled Who’s That Girl, referencing her 1987 film and song of the same name. Madonna is also set to direct the film.
In an Instagram post, Madonna shared photos of herself working on the script, accompanied by the caption: "I Need A-lot of Bandz to make this ……….. OKAY. (Story of my life) [sic]."
The film was originally announced in 2020, and Diablo Cody, known for Juno, and Erin Cressida Wilson, known for Snow White and the Huntsman, were brought in to assist Madonna with the script and screenplay. However, in January 2023, the film was reportedly paused indefinitely at Universal Pictures.
Following the shelving of the biopic, Madonna embarked on her Celebration Tour in October 2023 to celebrate four decades in the music industry. Reports suggest that she resumed work on the project upon her return home in June, hoping to finalise the script with Universal.
It has been suggested that Madonna desires complete control over the project, explaining her decision to both direct and write the film.
She has stated: "I’ve had an extraordinary life, I must make an extraordinary film...It was also a pre-emptive strike because a lot of people were trying to make movies about me. Mostly misogynistic men...So I put my foot in the door and said, 'No one’s going to tell my story, but me.'"
The Madonna biopic would join a growing list of musical biopics, including the Queen film Bohemian Rhapsody, the Sir Elton John film Rocketman, and Better Man, based on the life of Robbie Williams.
Garner's recent work includes a role as the Silver Surfer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's reboot of The Fantastic Four, alongside Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The film has reportedly enjoyed a successful opening, exceeding the takings of Superman from DC Studios.
The news of the Madonna biopic's continued development is sure to excite fans of both the singer and Julia Garner. The film promises to offer an intimate and authentic portrayal of one of the most influential figures in music history, told from her own perspective.
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