After years of speculation, it’s now official. Julia Garner will play Madonna in the upcoming biopic about the pop icon’s extraordinary life.
The 31-year-old confirmed the news in a recent W Magazine video, though she kept most details under wraps. “I can’t say too much about it, but yes, it’s a work in progress,” Garner said.
The idea of a Madonna biopic has been around for several years. In 2020, the Queen of Pop herself announced that she would co-write and direct the film with Diablo Cody. Madonna said the movie would focus on her journey as an artist, dancer, musician, and human being navigating a complex world.
“Music has kept me going and art has kept me alive,” she said at the time. “There are so many untold and inspiring stories, and who better to tell it than me?”
The project faced several delays. Universal Pictures initially shelved the film in 2023, leaving fans wondering if it would ever happen. Madonna later shared in 2024 that she was returning to the script, reigniting hopes for the film.
Julia Garner had previously hinted at her involvement in Madonna biopic during a July appearance on the “Smartless” podcast. While she didn’t officially confirm landing the role, she spoke about her audition process.
“It was about seeing if I could do it,” Garner explained. “I wasn’t a trained dancer, so I had to learn to dance, then perform in front of her and convince her I could do it. And sing with her, too!”
The audition process, reportedly nicknamed “Madonna Bootcamp,” was intense. Candidates faced long days of choreography with Madonna’s choreographer and the singer herself. At callbacks, they had to perform, sing, and even act alongside the pop legend.
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Before Garner was officially chosen, other stars rumored to be in the running included Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, Bebe Rexha, and Sky Ferreira.
Madonna has been vocal about taking control of her own story. In a 2021 interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” she criticized previous attempts to make movies about her life, saying men had often led those projects without understanding her experiences.
“There’s nobody on this planet that can write or direct, make a movie about me better than me. And that is just the truth,” she said.
For Garner, this role is not entirely new territory. She is known for portraying real-life figures with depth and intensity. Most recently, she received critical acclaim for playing convicted con artist Anna Delvey in Netflix’s 2022 series “Inventing Anna,” earning multiple award nominations for her performance.