Julia Garner says Madonna biopic status keeps changing

Julia Garner says she does not know whether the Madonna biopic will proceed, describing its status as changing frequently and stressing that the decision is not hers. In a recent interview, the actor said she would like the film to be made, while also valuing the friendship she formed with Madonna.

The project, in which Garner was cast to portray the singer, has faced delays since it was announced in 2020. Madonna was expected to direct the film. Reports in 2023 said it had been put on hold at Universal Pictures, but Garner’s latest comments do not establish whether it is being developed, paused or formally abandoned.

Madonna has separately described a dispute with Universal over the film’s budget. In an interview published earlier this year, she said she had worked on the script for two years and spent another two years with the studio on budgeting and casting. She said she wanted a large budget for a film about her life and that she and Universal had a falling out over the issue.

Madonna also said she later proposed making the film in Serbia for less money, but that the studio was not interested in the idea. Universal has not provided a response to her account in the reports...