Madonna's Biopic Project Halts Over Budget Dispute with Universal

Pop icon Madonna was set to co‑write and direct a biographical film about her life, with top screenwriters Diablo Cody and Erin Cressida Wilson attached and actress Julia Garner slated to star. Negotiations with Universal Pictures broke down after a budget clash; Universal suggested relocating production to Serbia to cut costs, which Madonna rejected, saying she needed a "big amount" to properly portray her story.

Following the fallout, Madonna pursued the concept as a potential Netflix series, but was unable to reuse the Universal‑developed script without paying an exorbitant fee. After nearly a year of seeking a suitable production partner, the effort stalled and the project remains shelved.