Musicbusinessworldwide.com
Madonna has revealed that the feature film based on her life is no longer moving forward, ending years of development after creative and financial disagreements with Universal Pictures.
The pop icon said the project unraveled due to disputes surrounding its budget. Madonna, who was set to co-write and direct the film, explained that she spent several years developing the screenplay and working alongside the studio on casting and production plans before negotiations broke down.
According to the singer, the scale of her career required a production budget that Universal was unwilling to support. She said she even explored relocating filming to Serbia as a way to reduce costs, but the proposal failed to gain traction with studio executives.
The biopic was first announced in 2021 after Universal secured the rights following a competitive bidding process. Producer Amy Pascal joined the project, while screenwriters including Diablo Cody and Erin Cressida Wilson contributed to various drafts.
Julia Garner was cast to portray Madonna after reportedly completing an intensive audition process involving singing and choreography. The film was ultimately shelved in 2023 as Madonna shifted her attention to her record-breaking Celebration Tour.
The artist also revealed that efforts to adapt her life story into a television series faced additional obstacles. After discussions with Netflix began, Madonna said she discovered she could not reuse the screenplay developed for Universal without purchasing it back, forcing the project to start from scratch. A separate series remains in development with director Shawn Levy.
The update comes as Michael, the biopic centered on Michael Jackson, continues its historic theatrical run. The film has reportedly earned approximately $960 million worldwide, putting it within reach of the $1 billion milestone and cementing its place as the highest-grossing music biopic to date.
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