Madonna Claims She Had a 'Falling Out' with Universal over Biopic: 'I've Had a Huge Life, So I Needed a Big Budget'
Madonna Claims She Had a 'Falling Out' with Universal over Biopic: 'I've Had a Huge Life, So I Needed a Big Budget'
Ilana KaplanMon, June 22, 2026 at 5:21 PM UTC
0
Madonna in May 2026 in New York CityCredit: Kevin Mazur/MG25/Getty -
Madonna allegedly had a "falling out" with Universal Studios over her biopic
"They couldn't get their heads around it," the pop star claims in a Monday, June 22 Interview Magazine cover story
The biopic stalled in January 2023
Madonna claimed there was a "falling out" over her biopic with Universal Studios.
In an Interview Magazine cover story published on Monday, June 22, the pop star addressed what allegedly happened to her biopic, which reportedly stalled in January 2023.
"I was supposed to make a movie about my life," Madonna, 67, told the publication. "I worked on my script for two years and spent two years at Universal Studios with the line producers doing budgeting and casting."
The "Hung Up" hitmaker then claimed that she "had a falling out, me and Universal, regarding budget."
Madonna in June 2026 in New York CityCredit: James Devaney/GC Images
"I've had an extraordinary life. I've had a huge life, so I needed a big budget," Madonna claimed.
According to the "Bring Your Love" performer, Universal Studios "couldn't get their heads around it."
Madonna claimed that she found a way to make the biopic for less money in Serbia, but Universal Studios allegedly had their doubts.
"I don't know. Maybe they just didn't believe in me. One of their first reactions was, 'We don't believe you'd stay in Serbia more than four days.' And I said, 'Did you read the script?' My whole life has been survival. I'm not going there for a holiday," she said.
Madonna said she was "in limbo" when the biopic "fell apart."
She then claimed that Netflix reached out to her to make a series, which Variety confirmedwas happening in May.
Advertisement
"That was a whole other long process, because I couldn't use the script I had with Universal unless I bought it from them for an extortionist's price, even though I wrote it. Don't ask," said Madonna.
While she started trying to understand how to make a series, the "Love Sensation" performer discovered it was a "very, very different process" from making a movie.
"You have to meet a lot of writers and find the right showrunner, and I couldn't find one. This went on for another eight or nine months. I was like, 'Good thing I have another job because I need to work, I need to create. I need to do what I was put on this earth to do,'" Madonna said, referring to shifting her focus back to music for Confessions II.
Varietyreported in January 2023 that Universal Pictures was no longer developing Madonna's biopic, which Julia Garner was associated with since at least 2022. In June 2022, a source told PEOPLE that the Ozark star was Madonna's top choice to play her in the film.
Still, Madonna and Garner, 32, stayed in touch, with the pair posing for a picture at photographer and filmmaker Steven Klein's May 2023 birthday party and the Inventing Anna actress joining Madonna on stage during a Brooklyn concert in December 2023.
Madonna in May 2026 in N.Y.C.; Julia Garner in Paris in March 2026Credit: Theo Wargo/FilmMagic; Aitor Rosas Sune/WWD via Getty
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In July 2024, Madonna then teased work on the film's script and revealed the working title, Who's That Girl, a nod to her 1987 film and song of the same name.
However, in May 2025, Deadline reported that Madonna joined forces with Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy for a Netflix limited series about her life.
PEOPLE has reached out to reps from Universal Studios and Netflix for comment.
Confessions II, Madonna's first studio album since 2019's Madame X, is due July 3.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
