Julia Garner is not done with Madonna just yet, and well, neither are we. The Emmy-winning “Ozark” star recently opened up on the “SmartLess” podcast about her high-stakes audition for the Queen of Pop’s long-teased biopic. And let’s just say, it wasn’t your average cold read.
“Yeah, I mean, that’s supposed to still happen,” Garner said so nonchalantly when asked if the project was alive. Cue fan whiplash, especially after we’ve all been wondering what happened to the whole ordeal. The biopic, which was originally announced in 2020 and later shelved by Universal in 2023 due to Madonna’s “Celebration” tour, may be getting a second life. This time, possibly as a Netflix limited series with “Stranger Things” producer Shawn Levy onboard.
But while the fate of the film floats in limbo, Garner’s experience trying to become Madonna is very much still there and very intense. We’re just glad she decided to give us a little teaser and opened up more about the anticipated film.
Julia Garner Isn’t Letting Go of Her Madonna Moment
Let’s rewind a little bit. Picture Garner, who is recently making waves for the new “Fantastic Four” film, as a self-described Madonna fan prepping for the role of a lifetime. She’s not a trained dancer, which she has said multiple times. She’s also never sung professionally. But nope, that didn’t stop the actress from trying to be one of the world’s biggest pop stars. She walked into that audition room with Madonna herself sitting there, waiting to be impressed.
“I had to learn how to dance and then dance in front of her and convince her I can dance, basically,” Garner said. “And sing. And sing with her!” No pressure, right?
So, how did she keep it together while performing for the woman who pretty much invented pop stardom?
“I just thought, ‘Okay, what would Madonna do?’ Which convinces you that she deserves to be in this room, and I owned it,” Garner explained. “I was kind of like, ‘You can take it or leave it. But if I leave, that’s on you.’”
A Role Worth Fighting For
Garner isn’t exaggerating when she says the audition process was grueling. The search for the perfect Madonna included big names like Florence Pugh, “Euphoria’s” Alexa Demie, and Anne Winters. Apparently, the process was so hard that they each had to go through intense boot camps to prove they could embody the icon’s unmatched energy.
But it was Garner who won Madonna’s vote. By 2022, she had officially landed the lead role. Madonna herself was set to direct and co-wrote the screenplay with Diablo Cody and Erin Cressida Wilson, which only made the stakes higher.
Though the film was eventually shelved, Garner’s commitment never wavered. And we thank her for that! She told the “SmartLess” hosts, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and ex-costar Jason Bateman, that she still believes in the project and the power of patience.
“Anything that’s great… takes a long time.”
What was even more exciting for fans was that in 2022, according to Entertainment Weekly, Madonna had met with Julia Fox to discuss her joining the film. She would play Debi Mazar, who is Madonna’s longtime friend, whom she met in the 80s.
Madonna’s Legacy, Garner’s Grit
At 31, Julia Garner has proven her range. From a money-laundering prodigy in “Ozark,” in which she made history, to now playing Silver Surfer for Marvel, the range is insane, to say the least. But the Madonna biopic, she says, hits differently. For Garner, the role isn’t just about fame; rather, it’s about channeling the singer’s fearless commitment to reinvention then and now.
“I grew up listening to Madonna,” she said. “I kind of just wanted to see if I could do it.”
And that mindset? It’s pure Madonna, indeed!
While we don’t have a release date (or even a final format), one thing’s certain, Garner is still in the groove. And we’re ready for her to strike a pose.
Garner isn’t letting go of her dream role as Madonna; if that’s not method acting with pop star flair, we don’t know what is.
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Julia Garner Spills on Nerve-Wracking Madonna Biopic Audition: ‘I Had to Dance in Front of Her’