Julia Garner says she still wants the planned Madonna biopic to reach the screen, but she cannot offer a firm answer about its future. In a recent CBS interview, the actress described a project whose status continues to shift after making little progress since it was announced in 2020.
Asked where the film stands, Garner replied: “I don’t know. Every hour it changes, in a way.” She said the decision was beyond her control, while making clear that she remained eager to see the production happen. Whatever the outcome, Garner said, her connection with Madonna had already brought something meaningful: “I made a great friend.” She added: “I love Madonna. I think she’s incredible.”
The comments follow a more assured update Garner offered in July 2025 on the “SmartLess” podcast. Speaking with hosts Will Arnett, Sean Hayes and Jason Bateman, she said she was still expected to portray the seven-time Grammy winner. “That’s supposed to still happen,” she told them. Garner also described herself as a longtime admirer who had grown up listening to Madonna’s music, and suggested that the time required to make something great could help explain the wait.
The production had already faced a significant setback by then. In 2023, Variety reported that the film had been scrapped ahead of Madonna’s world tour and was on an indefinite pause at Universal Pictures. Garner’s latest remarks leave the project’s future unresolved, even as she continues to express interest in making it.
Variety exclusively reported in 2022 that Garner had secured the lead role following a demanding selection process that included a singing and dancing boot camp. Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, Odessa Young and Bebe Rexha were also reported to have been considered for the part.
Madonna herself was expected to direct the biopic. Two separate scripts were reportedly written by Diablo Cody and Cressida Wilson. Madonna’s writing sessions with Cody were widely shared on social media during the film’s development.
Garner also stars in Netflix’s eight-episode limited series “The Altrusists,” which arrives on November 19. She plays Caroline Ellison opposite Anthony Boyle as Sam Bankman-Fried. The series follows the ambitious pair’s efforts to remake the global financial system before they were accused of stealing $8 billion.
