This is why the Madonna biopic starring Julia Garner isn't happening after all

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Madonna is just a material girl, living in a material world.The “Vogue” hitmaker graced the cover of Interview magazine for the Summer 2026 issue and in the accompanying chat, the singer revealed the reason the ultra-hyped biopic with “Ozark” star Julia Garner was scrapped: not enough cold hard cash.

Turns out, Universal Studios was not Madonna’s Mr.Right.

According to the pop star, the studio didn’t share her vision for a budget for the film.“I worked on my script for two years and spent two years at Universal Studios with the line producers doing budgeting and casting,” she told the magazine.

“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.

You know what I mean?” The film had been in the works for years, and in 2021 Universal Pictures won a multi-studio auction to helm the biopic.According to Variety, the script followed Madonna from her upbringing in the suburbs of Detroit, her artistic awakening in 1980s New York City, and concluded around the 1998 release of “Ray of Light.” “I found a way to make it for less money in Serbia, but I don’t think they were into the idea of — I don’t know,” she said.

“Maybe they just didn’t believe in me.” Entertainment & Arts Watch L.A.Madonna said the studio couldn’t wrap its head around what she was suggesting and countered that she wouldn’t “stay in Serbia more than four days.” “I said, ‘Did you read the script?’ My whole life has been survival.

I’m not going there for a holiday.’”Madonna said that she was in “limbo” when the movie plans fell apart, and she considered telling her life story through a Netflix series when the streamer came knocking.But she wouldn’t be able to use the script she had penned for Universal without buying it from the studio for �...