“They Just Didn’t Believe In Me”: Madonna Blasts Universal for Shelving Her Biopic Over ‘Extortionist’ Demands

After years of silence, Madonna has finally opened up about why her long-awaited biopic fell apart. In a new interview, the pop star said a heated fight with Universal Pictures over the budget is what stopped the project, which had been in the works since 2020.

“I was supposed to make a movie about my life,” Madonna told Interview magazine. “I worked on my script for two years and spent two years at Universal Studios with the line producers doing budgeting and casting.”

Universal Pictures Blocked Madonna’s Script Over “Extortionist” Price

According to Madonna, the main problem came down to money. “We had a falling out, me and Universal, regarding budget because I needed—I’ve had an extraordinary life. I’ve had a huge life, so I needed a big budget. You know what I mean?“

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She said the studio did not understand the scale needed to tell her story properly. She tried to find a middle ground and suggested filming in Serbia to cut costs, but claims the studio was not excited about the idea. “Maybe they just didn’t believe in me,” she said. “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.“

The disagreement left Madonna stuck, and the film, which was supposed to star Emmy winner Julia Garner, was eventually dropped. Netflix later approached her to turn the story into a series, but another problem came up. Madonna says Universal blocked her from using her own script unless she bought it back from them “for an extortionist’s price, even though I wrote it. Don’t ask.” That issue, along with the struggle to find the right showrunner, stalled things for nearly nine months.

How Madonna Turned Hollywood Frustration Into New Music

This artistic gridlock, however, became the unexpected catalyst for her new music. “I was like, ‘Good thing I have another job because I need to work, I need to create,‘” she said, explaining how the frustration inspired her to channel her energy into her upcoming album, Confessions II.

In case you missed it: “I Did My Best To Keep Him Alive”: Madonna Pens A Loving Note After Her Brother Christopher Ciccone’s Death

While the biopic remains in limbo, her story continues to find an audience. Insiders recently confirmed that a fictionalized version of the project will live on in Season 2 of the Apple TV+ series ‘The Studio‘.

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