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Madonna Biopic Nixed Over Budget Dispute with Universal Pictures

Madonna’s planned biopic at Universal Pictures was canceled due to a budget disagreement, the pop icon revealed to Interview magazine. Universal won an auction in 2021 to produce the film, with Madonna set to co-write and direct.

Variety Music·Jun 22, 2026·via Variety Music

Madonna Biopic Nixed Over Budget Dispute with Universal Pictures

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Jun 22, 2026 9:43am PT

Madonna Says a ‘Falling Out’ With Universal Pictures Over Budget Killed Her Biopic Movie: ‘I’ve Had a Huge Life, So I Needed a Big Budget’

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Madonna revealed to Interview magazine that a falling out with Universal Pictures is the reason her movie biopic never went into production. The studio won a multi-studio auction in 2021 to make a film about Madonna’s life, with the pop icon on board to co-write and direct the movie. Screenwriters such as Diablo Cody and Erin Cressida Wilson were attached to the film over the years, while “Ozark” Emmy winner Julia Garner won the part of Madonna 2022 after a highly-publicized audition boot camp.