Per Variety, Julia Garner (Ozark, Inventing Anna) has been offered the role of Madonna in the forthcoming biopic about the pop icon. A Variety insider added that Garner has emerged the favorite from over a dozen candidates, and has for months been speculated as a frontrunner for the part.
This news should hold additional weight as Madonna is currently scheduled to direct the film herself, and obviously there’s no chance she’d work with someone she’s not comfortable with. Garner’s team is widely expected to accept the offer. The audition process was reportedly grueling, as the music-heavy production requires a skilled singer and dancer.
The film is in development at Universal, and will center around Madonna‘s early days as an immensely popular artist, figure of controversy, and queen of perpetual reinvention. Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley won the script in a multi-studio bidding war last September. Amy Pascal is attached as a producer.
When the film was announced last year, Madonna said she hoped to: “convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer — a human being, trying to make her way in this world.
The focus of this film will always be music. Music has kept me going and art has kept me alive. There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me. It’s essential to share the roller coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision.”
Garner first gained attention for her recurring role on The Americans, a lead role in season one of Dirty John, and a main role for the entirety of Ozark. She also starred in impressive 2019 drama The Assistant before leading Netflix series Inventing Anna earlier this year. She’s probably on the radar of mostly Ozark fans right now, but that will change with this role.
A production timeline for the film is still currently unknown, nor do we have any idea regarding other cast members. But there will no doubt be plenty of interest in this movie, especially with Madonna directing it herself.
This is just the latest in the long line of biopics about musical superstars that begun when Bohemian Rhapsody earned almost $1 billion at the box office a few years ago. The next music biopic due out is Baz Luhrmann‘s Elvis, which is due to be released Friday, June 24.
#Peace.Love.Madonna
