Julia Garner-starring biopic of Madonna has been shelved
Julia Garner will not appear in the eagerly awaited Madonna biopic, ‘MADONNA,’ which is now on hiatus. Several insiders informed variety that the film, which the icon was planning to direct herself, is no longer developing at Universal Pictures.
If the Madonna movie gets shelved, it’s a very perplexing choice given the film’s lengthy and arduous journey to production, according to many who auditioned.
After The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the months-long audition process reportedly involved 11-hour choreography training sessions and reading and singing auditions with Madonna herself, Garner’s selection as the film’s lead got greeted with a sort of Hunger Games champion-level intrigue. At various times, Alexa Demie, Florence Pugh, and Sky Ferreira were all said to be contenders.
Madonna’s ‘MADONNA’ biopic, starring Julia Garner, has been scrapped.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 24, 2023
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In June 2022, Ozark actress Julia Garner got offered the part, and Madonna was to serve as the film’s director. Garner was thought to have won the role ahead of competitors Sydney Sweeney and Florence Pugh.
Garner appeared to be a wise choice for the superstar’s younger self.
Variety reports that the singer’s next global tour is why the movie, which would have chronicled the singer’s life, is still ongoing.
Following Madonna’s announcement of a career-spanning world tour last week, which quickly sold out dates in New York, Paris, London, and other cities, speculation about the movie’s future arose. Insiders who know Madonna well claim that while the tour is her only priority, she is still determined to produce a film about her life one day.
Universal Pictures, Julia Garner, and Madonna’s spokesman declined to comment on the situation. Once her tour is over, Madonna is expected to resume the project.
More Details about Madonna’s Biopic Starring Julia Garner
Although the movie got announced in 2020, production continued until 2022. Significant elements of Madonna’s artistic and personal life were depicted in two script draughts.
The biopic audition process for Madonna began in February, and Madonna told her Instagram followers that it was a “surreal experience” at the time.
Diablo Cody, an Oscar winner, collaborated on an earlier draught (their writing sessions got disseminated widely on social media). Erin Cressida Wilson was the second passer (“The Girl on the Train,” “Secretary” ).
Variety announced in June last year that Emmy and Golden Globe winner Garner had chosen to cast in the part of the pop legend.
It came after a testing week-long bake-off between a group of young actors who attended a singing and dancing boot camp, including Florence Pugh, “Euphoria” star Odessa Young, Alexa Demie, and Bebe Rexha.
The concept was introduced to the studio by producer Amy Pascal, whose eponymous production firm is based on the Universal lot, and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Chairman Donna Langley.
Guy Oseary, a former manager of Madonna, and Sara Zambreno got slated to executive produce. The project would have reunited Madonna and Pascal, who worked together on the 1982 baseball hit “A League of Their Own.”
Madonna has directed two full-length motion pictures: “W.E,” a chronological romance about King Edward VIII abrogating the British crown to wed Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, and “Filth and Wisdom,” a dramedy with a British setting from 2008.
The singer has been candid about the difficulties involved in doing a project about herself ever since the idea for the movie first emerged.
In a Rolling Stone interview with vocalist Maluma in October 2021, she stated: “Composing my script was the most exhausting, challenging experience I’ve ever had.“
“Because I have to recall every detail from my early years to the present, it’s something similar to psychotherapy,” she noted.
Details about Madonna’s World Tour
In addition to 35 sites worldwide, the Celebration Tour will begin in North America in July. The singer will then go to Barcelona, Stockholm, and Paris destinations.
The singer added a second London tour stop due to the incredibly high demand for tickets.
Madonna would want to be in charge of a film about her life as she has consistently displayed a superb level of control over her image and creativity over the years. That is impossible because of a planned world tour, but that doesn’t necessarily imply the movie is doomed. Hopefully, it’s only taking a break while Madonna enjoys her holiday.
