Emmy-winningJulia Garnerof renownedOzarkfame has received an official offer from Madonna herself to playMadonnain a movie written and produced by Madonna that will be directed by Madonna. No pressure, Julia Garner! After herOzarkandInventing Annasuccess, Julia Garner is hot off the press as an incredibly talented actress with grace, rawness, and so much power on the screen. She resembles Madonna as much as any woman can. Though every eligible actress in Hollywood was seen for the role, Julia Garner was chosen as the perfect choice. We expect to see announcements soon that she has officially, formally accepted the mammoth part.
Afterauditioning against actresseslike Florence Pugh for the role, Julia Garner was declared the chosen one by Madonna herself. Garner’s agents and managers are now sifting through the paperwork, conducting negotiations, and considering moving forward with the deal. The talented and stunning Garner must be one of the most in-demand actresses working, but she certainly seems like the perfect choice to play the Queen of Pop. The fact that such speculative casting decisions have been made so public throughout this selection process should prepare us for the scope and impact of this huge project.
The fact that Madonna has written her own story and is attached to direct Julia Garner, or whichever actress accepts the role, herself, moreover, will also raise many eyebrows. Few people have been too heavily involved in the telling of their own lives beyond written autobiographies. Here is everything we know about the biopic so far!
Intense Auditions With A-List Hollywood Actresses
The audition process forthe role of Madonnawas apparently “grueling,” with sometimes up to eleven hours of dancing and choreography instruction, sometimes with Madonna herself. These actresses ran the gauntlet to prove that they could not only capture the emotional heart of the protagonist but keep up with the absolute marathon of her physicality. Some of the dance lessons went on for up to 11 hours, so we can only imagine how demanding the actual production portion will be. Garner might as well go on tour as Madonna.
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Singing auditions and workshops also took place, indicating we can expect to hear the chosen actress singing in the film rather than seeing them lipsynch and hearing Madonna’s original songs. Casting director Carmen Cuba was at the helm of the auditions with and on behalf of Madonna. Other actresses who competed for the part wereEuphoria’sAlexa Demie,The Daughter’sunderrated and immensely talented Australian actress Odessa Young, and the rising newcomer Emma Laird. Meanwhile, Julia Fox ofUncut Gemshas reportedly already beencast as Madonna’s best friend,Goodfellasactress Debi Mazer.
Madonna Biopic: Production & Conception
Madonna has said she decided to write and direct her own biopic because all the producers who wanted to write a movie about her life were men. She has referred to the “long process” of crafting this film as “therapeutic.” Erin Cressida Wilson, who penned the 2002 screenplaySecretary, is co-writing the script with Madonna.Amy Pascal of theSpider-Manmovies will produce the film at Universal Pictures.
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Incidentally, the Weird Al Yankovic movie starring Daniel Radcliff that will be released on Roku later this year has something to keep us informed about Madonna’s latest, potentially most massive endeavor.Evan Rachel Wood was cast to play Madonnain Weird Al’s upcoming movie –Weird: The Al Yankovic Story– and it is not believed she had to undergo anything like the audition process Madonna herself rigged for her own film to get the part.Weird: The Al Yankovic Storywas also aided by active involvement from its real-life subject, though Al Yankovic has made the biopic about his alter ego rather than himself.
The tone of Madonna’s biopic is not known, but it can be expected to be an intense deep dive into the singer’s personal world. It is a project that will turn a lot of heads and raise a lot of questions about a self-written and directed biopic and not only the conventionality but ethics of laying your own story bare for the world. Nobody has yet made a multi-million-dollar movie so transparently about themselves. However, film is still a relatively new medium, so this should have been expected to transpire at some point. And if anybody should or could do it, it would be Madonna.
No official title has yet been assigned to the film, and it has not yet been greenlit, but it can only be assumed that Julia Garner will accept the role, and we will soon have production details to share for the Madonna biopic!
