It would be fair to say that music biopics are very much in vogue right now. From Bob Dylan (A Complete Unknown) to Bob Marley (One Love), Amy Winehouse (Back To Black) to Robbie Williams (Better Man), and very soon The Beatles too, Hollywood is — for lack of a better phrase — hung up on telling singers' stories. All of which is to say that the only surprising thing about today's news, coming from Deadline, that Netflix is partnering with Queen of Pop Madonna to make a four-part limited series chronicling the 'Beautiful Stranger' songsmith's life and career is that it hasn't happened sooner.
Back in 2020, we first reported that her Madgesty was planning to co-write and direct her own biopic, then envisioned as a feature team-up with Juno scribe Diablo Cody. But after learning in 2022 that three-time Emmy winning Ozark star Julia Garner had beaten out the likes of Florence Pugh and Evan Rachel Wood to be Madonna's own Material Girl and been offered the lead in the movie, plans fell apart when Madge went on tour and the biopic was put on ice. But just when we thought we'd lost all cause for celebration, Netflix has arrived like a prayer to resurrect the project, moving away from the film idea as Deadpool & Wolverine helmsman Shawn Levy has joined forces with Madonna to produce a new limited series. What's more, subject to her availability, Garner is still in the frame to play the pop icon, with the duo having been snapped together as recently as Vanity Fair's Oscar Party back in March.
Which specific point in Madonna's illustrious career this new Netflix show will focus on is unknown at this point, as is when we can expect to see it, who'll be writing it, and indeed who'll be calling the shots and show running. Still, after half a decade of being frozen in the planning phase, we can see a ray of light at last for a proper deep-dive into the lives and times of Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone. Here's hoping with Netflix now on board, this one will be able to get into the groove and get onto our screens soon — watch this space!