Madonna's Autobiopic Stalls Over Budget Dispute with Universal

Madonna spent about two years developing an autobiographical film about her life, working with Oscar‑winning screenwriter Diablo Cody and producer Amy Pascale at Universal Studios. The project stalled after a budget disagreement: Madonna sought a high‑budget production to cover her extensive career, while Universal balked at the proposed costs. She suggested shooting in Serbia to reduce expenses, but the studio was unconvinced and halted the film.

After Universal dropped the movie, Netflix approached Madonna with a proposal for a series based on the same script. However, Universal demanded an exorbitant price for releasing the script, preventing Madonna from moving forward with the Netflix option. The pop star has expressed frustration over the prolonged stalemate and is focusing on other work while the autobiopic remains on hold.