Julia Garner confirms she’s still set to play Madonna in upcoming biopic

Julia Garner has shared a hopeful update about the long-anticipated Madonna biopic, confirming that the project is still moving forward.

During a recent appearance on the “SmartLess” podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes, Garner revealed that the film is “supposed to still happen,” despite years of delays and limited updates.

Garner was first attached to the Madonna biopic in 2022, following an intense audition process that reportedly involved hours of choreography and singing in front of Madonna herself. Competing against major names like Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, and Anne Winters, Garner ultimately secured the lead role. She told the podcast hosts that she drew on her childhood love for Madonna’s music and embraced the pop icon’s fearless attitude during the tryout. “I kind of just thought, okay, what would Madonna do?” Garner said. “And I owned it.”

The film, co-written and set to be directed by Madonna, has faced development setbacks, particularly when the singer paused production to focus on her Celebration Tour in 2023. While Garner did not provide a timeline for the project’s resumption, she noted that “anything that’s great takes a long time.”

Madonna’s team has not yet commented on the film’s current status, but the news of Garner’s continued involvement suggests the biopic still has life. Fans remain eager to see how the actress, best known for “Ozark” and now starring in “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” will embody the Queen of Pop on screen.