Julia Garner Says Madonna Biopic ‘Has Got to Get Made’

The road to bringing Madonna's life story to the big screen has been anything but smooth, filled with scrapped budgets and shifting scripts. Still, Garner insists the project isn't dead yet.

Julia Garner is not ready to let go of the Madonna biopic just yet. Months after the "Material Girl" singer revealed that Universal Pictures had scrapped the film, the "Ozark" actress made clear that she still holds out hope the project will eventually reach theaters.

Julia Garner attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema's "Weapons" at The United Theater on Broadway on July 31, 2025 in California. | Source: Getty Images

Speaking with ELLE in an interview published Tuesday, September 8, Garner said, "I think the movie has to get made. But we'll see..." Her comment comes after a long and complicated production history.

Universal Pictures canceled Madonna's planned biopic — which the pop icon was originally set to direct herself — back in 2023, leaving Garner's portrayal of the 68-year-old "Queen of Pop" stuck in development limbo.

Madonna is seen performing a surprise concert in Times Square on June 04, 2026 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

The project passed through several rounds of rewrites, including scripts from Diablo Cody and Erin Cressida Wilson, before it was ultimately shelved. Madonna later revealed that bringing her story to the screen the way she envisioned it came with an enormous price tag.

"I was supposed to make a movie about my life," she began during a conversation with Interview. "I worked on my script for two years and spent two years at Universal Studios with the line producers doing budgeting and casting."

Madonna attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

"We had a falling out, me and Universal, regarding budget because I needed — I've had an extraordinary life," she continued. "I've had a huge life, so I needed a big budget. You know what I mean?"

The singer explained that she tried to bring costs down by proposing to film in Serbia, but even that concession wasn't enough to satisfy producers.

"One of their first reactions was, 'We don't believe you'd stay in Serbia more than four days.' And I said, 'Did you read the script?' My whole life has been survival. I'm not going there for a holiday. But anyway, I was in limbo when that fell apart," she lamented.

Madonna first revealed she was developing the film back in 2020. Two years later, reports surfaced that Garner had landed the lead role, beating out other names in contention, including Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, and Odessa Young.

"I can't say too much about it," Garner said in a video shared by W Magazine at the time. "But yes, it's a work in progress." She kept further details about the plot, casting, or timeline under wraps, and fans were left with little new information — until now.

Even with the biopic on hold, Garner and Madonna's collaboration hasn't ended there. The two have since found another way to share the screen, teaming up for an episode of the second season of "The Studio."

In it, Garner plays a fictionalized version of herself alongside Madonna. Series co-creator Seth Rogen was spotted filming scenes in Venice, Italy, after the production scouted locations there during the previous year's Venice Film Festival.

For Garner, working alongside Madonna proved to be an unforgettable experience — even if the local cuisine left something to be desired.

"It was beyond! I always say it's fine with the Italian queen!" Garner told ELLE. "It was incredible. I've never had an experience like that. Food's terrible, by the way. I had some of the worst Italian food in my life. But Venice is incredible."