THE highly-anticipated autobiographical film about music icon Madonna, which she was set to direct herself, has been put on hold indefinitely. According to multiple sources, the project is no longer in development at Universal Pictures.
The decision to halt the project came after Madonna announced a career-spanning world tour last week, which sold out shows in cities such as New York, London, Paris, and others within minutes. Insiders familiar with Madonna's plans say that her sole focus is on the tour, but she remains committed to making a film about her life one day.
The idea of a biopic has been circulating for quite some time, and in 2020, it was officially announced that Madonna herself would be directing the film.
Development on the film continued through the end of 2022, and Madonna had worked on two script drafts, which encompassed large periods of her creative and personal life.
An earlier version was written with Oscar-winner (Juno) Diablo Cody, and Erin Cressida Wilson, known for her work on 'Secretary' and 'The Girl on the Train,' took a second pass.
In June 2021, it was reported that Emmy and Golden Globe winner Julia Garner (known best for Netflix series Ozark) had been cast to play Madonna in the film, following a grueling weeks-long bake-off among a group of young actors, including Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, Odessa Young, and Bebe Rexha, who attended singing and dancing bootcamp.
Madonna has had experience in directing before, with two feature films to her name: 'Filth and Wisdom,' a 2008 dramedy set in the UK, and 2011's 'W.E.,' a historical romance about King Edward VIII's abdication of the British throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
It is unfortunate that the biographical film about Madonna's life will not be made in the near future, but fans can still look forward to her upcoming world tour and the possibility that she may bring the project back to life in the future. – The Vibes, January 26, 2023
