Madonna opened up about the studio clash that killed her long-awaited biopic. The singer revealed what went wrong with Universal Pictures and what came next.
Madonna cites the main reason her biopic didn’t move forward
Madonna revealed that a budget disagreement with Universal Pictures caused her biopic to fall apart.
The singer told Interview Magazine she worked on the script for two years and spent two additional years on budgeting and casting with the studio. She explained the core issue plainly: “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.”
Madonna also suggested the studio lacked faith in her commitment to the project. She said Universal “couldn’t get their heads around it” even after she found a cheaper production option in Serbia. The studio’s first reaction, according to Madonna, was dismissive: “We don’t believe you’d stay in Serbia more than four days.”
The singer pushed back firmly against that skepticism during the interview. She responded to the studio by saying, “Did you read the script? My whole life has been survival. I’m not going there for a holiday.” Madonna was set to co-write and direct the film, which had Julia Garner attached to star.
After the Universal project collapsed, Netflix approached Madonna about turning the story into a series. However, she could not use the script she wrote for Universal without buying it back “for an extortionist’s price.” The process of finding a showrunner then dragged on for eight or nine months without success.
Madonna channelled that creative frustration into music, reconnecting with producer Stuart Price. She began work on Confessions on a Dance Floor: Part II instead. Netflix eventually found a writer, but Madonna was already deep into the album. In 2025, she partnered with Shawn Levy for a limited bioseries at the streamer.
Garner later confirmed her involvement in the project remained “a work in progress.”
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.net.
