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I got something I wanna talk about … It’s now been six years of Madonna biopic teases and updates, and we still have nothing to show for our dedication through every twist and turn. Julia Garner, who landed the lead role in Madonna’s self-directed biopic back in 2022, has likewise been hung up on the film, coming out of Madonna Bootcamp victorious with only a participation trophy to show for it. Now, a year since her last update on the project, Garner admits that even she doesn’t know the current status of the film. “Every hour it changes,” Garner said in a CBS interview. “It’s not up to me. I would love for the movie to get made, obviously.” We hope it does too! Over 40 years into her career, at 68 years old, Madonna is still reminding us that she’s the Queen of Pop. She had a major comeback this year with the release of her 15th studio album, Confessions II, which won over critics and swept awards at the VMAs this year. It reminded us how much we’d love to sit in a dark theater with our hands stuffed in a Madonna-themed popcorn bucket, watching Garner sing, dance, and bring to life Madonna’s story. Here’s a timeline of every step forward and backward in the long, winding, and possibly never-ending road to the Madonna biopic.
August 7, 2020: Madonna shares a video on Instagram of herself and writer and film producer Diablo Cody looking cozy in quarantine and mid–brainstorm session. The caption: “When you’re stuck in a house with multiple injuries what do you do? Write a screenplay with Diablo Cody about …?” This raised initial speculation that the two could be working together on a Madonna biopic screenplay.
September 9, 2020: A month later, Madonna goes live with Cody, this time sharing a closer look at what they’ve been working on (a 107-page script) through a live writing session. Madonna and Cody also reveal that the film will involve producer Amy Pascal. As for the lead role, “who can fill my shoes in a movie?” Madonna wondered in the live. “Someone who wears a size 8.” Fans begin speculating that Madonna and her manager are eyeing Ozark actress Julia Garner, whom they both followed on Instagram and who has the curled blonde locks to pull off the look.
Variety reports a week later that Madonna will be self-directing her own biopic for Universal Pictures.
March 2, 2022: The search for Madonna is well underway, reportedly considering actresses and singers from Julia Garner to Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, and Bebe Rexha for the starring role. The audition process, a.k.a. Madonna Bootcamp, involves intense singing, choreography, and line-reading sessions that sometimes last for 11 hours.
June 7, 2022: Julia Garner is announced as the Lucky Star winner of Madonna Bootcamp and gets offered the role!
January 24, 2023: The biopic halts development ahead of Madonna’s Celebration world tour.
July 16, 2024: Madonna teases the biopic’s return in an Instagram post showing off a revised script titled Who’s That Girl.
July 28, 2025: During an appearance on the podcast Smartless, Garner tells hosts Jason Bateman, Sean P. Hayes, and Will Arnett that the Madonna film is “supposed to still happen.” She spoke a bit about the grueling audition process, before continuing, “I feel like anything that’s great takes a long time.”
September 27, 2026: Garner appears onstage with Madonna during her VMAs performance, as she opens the show with an eight-minute medley of songs from her latest studio album, Confessions II. The singer also took home seven awards from 13 nominations, her first VMA wins in 27 years, including Artist of the Year, reminding audiences that she’s still got it.
November 8, 2026: Garner shares an update on the status of the biopic during an interview with CBS. “I don’t know. Every hour it changes, in a way,” she said. “It’s not up to me. I would love for the movie to get made, obviously. But I also feel whatever happens, I made a great friend. I love Madonna. I think she’s incredible.”
