Madonna's Biopic Scrapped After Dispute Over Budget With Universal

WHO:

NY Post - Madonna, pop icon and singer

Variety - Universal Pictures, studio involved in the biopic project

WHAT:

NY Post - Madonna's biopic, which she wrote and was set to direct, was canceled.

Variety - The biopic was scrapped due to a falling out with Universal Pictures over budget issues.

WHERE:

Variety - The biopic was to be produced by Universal Pictures.

WHEN:

Variety - Universal Pictures won a multi-studio auction in 2021 to make the film about Madonna’s life.

WHY:

Variety - Madonna stated that the falling out with Universal Pictures was due to budget disagreements, saying, “I’ve had a huge life, so I needed a big budget.”

HOW:

Variety - Madonna was involved in co-writing and directing the biopic.

(UPDATED June 22, 2026 18:26 UTC)

Madonna's highly anticipated biopic, which she co-wrote and was set to direct, has been canceled due to a falling out with Universal Pictures over budget disagreements. The studio, which won a multi-studio auction in 2021 to produce the film, faced challenges as Madonna expressed the need for a substantial budget, stating, “I’ve had a huge life, so I needed a big budget.” This project, which aimed to capture the pop icon's extraordinary journey, will no longer move forward.