Madonna Reveals Budget Dispute Led to Universal Biopic Cancellation; Netflix Series in Development

Madonna has opened up about the cancellation of her long-gestating biopic at Universal Pictures, citing budget disagreements as the primary reason for the film's shelving. The pop icon spent four years developing the project—two years writing the script and two years working with Universal's line producers on budgeting and casting—before the partnership dissolved.

"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," Madonna said in an Interview magazine interview. She explained that she attempted to resolve the impasse by proposing to relocate production to Serbia to reduce costs, but the studio proved unwilling to accept the plan. Universal's skepticism extended to doubting her commitment to the project, with executives questioning whether she would remain in Serbia beyond four days. Madonna countered that her entire life had been defined by survival and resilience, not casual tourism.

The biopic project, which began in 2020 with the working title "Who's That Girl," was to be directed by Madonna herself. The film featured contributions from screenwriters Diablo Cody and Erin Cressida Wilson, with actress Julia Garner cast in the lead role following an intensive casting process dubbed the "Madonna bootcamp." By 2023, reports indicated the production had been scrapped. Madonna's previous directorial work includes "Filth and Wisdom" (2008) and "WE" (2011), alongside an acting career spanning films such as "Desperately Seeking Susan," "Evita," and "Dick Tracy."

Following the Universal fallout, Netflix approached Madonna about developing a limited series instead. However, this project encountered its own obstacles when Universal refused to release the script Madonna had written for the film unless she paid what she characterized as an "extortionist's price"—despite her being the script's author. The Netflix series development stalled as Madonna searched for an appropriate showrunner, a process that extended eight to nine months before ultimately proving unsuccessful. In 2025, it was reported that Madonna had begun collaborating with producer Shawn Levy on a limited bioseries for Netflix, though the project's current status remains uncertain.