'Ozark' star Julia Garner says shelved Madonna biopic is happening

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News on Jul 29, 2025

Published in Women

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Actor Julia Garner still plans to play pop star Madonna in a biopic first reported on in 2020.

“That supposed to still happen,” Garner said on Monday’s “Smartless” podcast, co-hosted by her “Ozark” costar Jason Bateman.

Variety reported in 2023 the film that they previously confirmed was in the works had been shelved around the time Madonna announced she was starting a world tour. The 66-year-old star reportedly planned to direct the movie. Garner reportedly landed the lead role by 2022.

The Emmy winner said on Monday’s podcast that she auditioned for Madge and things went well.

“I wasn’t a trained dancer and I had to learn how to dance and dance in front of her and convince her I can dance basically and sing with her,” the 31-year-old self-professed Madonna fan said.

Garner said she tried to approach her audition with the same confidence the singer has come to exemplify since first hitting the pop charts in 1983 with “Holiday.”

The Riverdale native didn’t offer further information about working on a movie about Madonna. She’s currently starring in the superhero flick “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

Madonna, who was born Madonna Louise Ciccone in Bay City, Michigan, announced the release of her new album “Veronica Electronica” Friday. It’s billed as “an eight-track companion” to her 1988 album “Ray of Light.”