Julia Garner Won’t Be Playing Madonna In A Biopic After All

The anticipated biopic of Madonna is taking an indefinite, ahem,  holiday. The project, which the music legend was going to direct herself, is no longer in development at Universal Pictures, multiple sources told Variety.

Speculation over the fate of the movie began instantly after Madonna announced a career-spanning world tour last week. Insiders said Madonna's sole focus right now is the tour. However, she remains committed to making a film about her life one day.

While initially announced in 2020, the development of the film lingered for the next two years. Madonna reportedly worked on two script drafts, with an earlier version written with Oscar winner Diablo Cody. Ozark's Julia Garner was offered the role to portray the pop icon. It followed a grueling weeks-long competition among a group of young actors  who attended singing and dancing boot camp. The actors included Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, Odessa Young and Bebe Rexha.

Madonna has two feature films to her name as a director. 2008's dramedy, Filth and Wisdom and 2011’s historical romance about King Edward VIII, W.E. In 2021, Madonna's Madame X documentary concert film was released. Written and produced by Madonna. That film was shot in January 2020 when she held her concerts in Lisbon, Portugal at the Coliseu dos Recreios. The tour struggled with production delays and Madonna’s recurring hip and knee injuries. The tour ultimately earned strong reviews. But its late start time often angered ticket holders and prompted two class action lawsuits from fans.

Earlier this week, Madonna, 64, posted a video to Instagram thanking her fans for their support and letting them know she isn't taking "any of this" for granted. In the video, Madonna said she feels like the "luckiest girl in the world," adding that she can't wait to "have a moment with each and every one of you on the stage to celebrate the last four decades of my journey."