Madonna Claims Universal Pulled Plug on Biopic Over Budget
Madonna has revealed that the long-awaited biopic about her life, which she was personally directing, was scrapped after a falling out with Universal Studios over the film's budget. Speaking to Interview magazine, the pop icon stated, 'We had a falling out, me and Universal, regarding budget because I needed – I've had an extraordinary life. I've had a huge life, so I needed a big budget.'
The singer explained that she proposed moving production to Serbia to reduce costs, but the studio rejected the idea. 'I found a way to make it for less money in Serbia, but I don't think they were into the idea of – I don't know. Maybe they just didn't believe in me. One of their first reactions was: 'We don't believe you'd stay in Serbia more than four days.'' Madonna added, 'I said, 'Did you read the script?' My whole life has been survival. I'm not going there for a holiday.'
Project Announced in 2020 with Diablo Cody Script
The biopic was first announced in 2020, with Madonna set to direct a script penned by Young Adult author Diablo Cody. At the time, Madonna said, 'It's essential to share the rollercoaster ride of my life with my voice and vision.' The project came after Madonna criticized a separate film called Blond Ambition, which Universal had acquired in 2017, calling the script 'all lies' on Instagram.
Julia Garner was cast as Madonna following an intense, grueling casting process dubbed 'Madonna bootcamp.' However, by 2023, reports emerged that the movie, working title Who's That Girl, had been canceled.
Madonna's Directorial and Acting History
Madonna has previously directed two feature films: Filth and Wisdom (about a Ukrainian musician in London) and WE (about Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII). Both received one-star reviews from The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw. She also has numerous acting credits, including Desperately Seeking Susan, Dick Tracy, Evita, and The Next Best Thing.
Netflix Series Also Derailed by Universal's Script Ownership
In the same interview, Madonna revealed that a proposed Netflix series about her life also failed to materialize due to Universal's ownership of the script she wrote for the film. 'Netflix reached out to make a series. That was a whole other long process, because I couldn't use the script I had with Universal unless I bought it from them for an extortionist's price, even though I wrote it … I started trying to understand how making a series would work. It's a very, very different process. You have to meet a lot of writers and find the right showrunner, and I couldn't find one.'
