In one of the most anticipated biopic developments of the decade, award-winning actress Julia Garner has officially confirmed that the first shots of the highly-awaited Madonna biopic are about to begin filming. This confirmation has reignited excitement in both the film and music industries, with fans eagerly awaiting Garner’s transformation into the Queen of Pop. The buzz surrounding the project reached a fever pitch this week when Garner was photographed by legendary fashion photographer Steven Meisel, capturing the essence of Madonna’s iconic True Blue era with uncanny precision.
A Long-Awaited Project Finds Its Rhythm
The Madonna biopic, rumored for years and delayed multiple times, has seen numerous iterations and casting speculations. However, Julia Garner’s involvement has been the most consistent and widely celebrated aspect of the project. Best known for her Emmy-winning performance in Ozark, Garner has long been considered a top-tier talent with the range and intensity to portray someone as enigmatic, complex, and transformative as Madonna Louise Ciccone.
After months of pre-production, delays due to scheduling, creative differences, and Madonna herself temporarily halting the project to ensure its authenticity, production is finally rolling. Garner’s recent confirmation is the first major update since Madonna’s health scare in 2023, which pushed the project into uncertainty. With the cameras now ready to roll, the biopic is entering a new phase—one that promises cinematic electricity.
The Meisel-Garner Collaboration: A Visual Love Letter to True Blue
To mark this pivotal moment, Julia Garner collaborated with Steven Meisel—one of Madonna’s closest creative collaborators and the visionary behind some of her most iconic photo shoots. Meisel famously photographed Madonna during the Like a Virgin, True Blue, and Erotica eras, helping to shape her public image and visual legacy.
The new photoshoot is more than just promotional content—it’s a cinematic prelude. In the images, Garner is styled in Madonna’s signature True Blue look: platinum blond coiffed curls, bold red lipstick, crucifix jewelry, and the cool, rebellious gaze that defined mid-80s Madonna. The resemblance is staggering—not just in appearance, but in energy.
The homage is particularly poignant given True Blue’s place in Madonna’s career. Released in 1986, the album was a commercial and artistic turning point, featuring hits like “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Open Your Heart,” and the titular “True Blue.” It was a declaration of artistic maturity, romantic optimism, and cultural defiance—traits that Garner will now be tasked with embodying on screen.
What We Know About the Biopic So Far
The Madonna biopic, tentatively titled Little Sparrow (a rumored working title taken from a line in “Live to Tell”), is being developed by Universal Pictures and will be directed by none other than Madonna herself. This move has sparked both excitement and apprehension. While few know Madonna’s story better than she does, some critics question whether a biopic directed by its subject can offer objective insight.
However, Madonna has promised a raw, unfiltered, and ambitious portrayal of her rise from a struggling dancer in New York City to one of the most influential pop stars of all time. “This film is not a love letter to me,” Madonna said in a past interview. “It’s a love letter to every artist out there who’s had to claw their way through the impossible.”
The script has undergone multiple revisions, with input from screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno, Young Adult) in the early stages. The narrative will reportedly span Madonna’s formative years in the late 70s through the cultural dominance of her 80s and early 90s reign. Fans can expect a balance of grit and glamour, vulnerability and boldness.
Julia Garner: The Transformation Begins
Julia Garner’s preparation for the role has been intense. Reports suggest she underwent extensive vocal coaching, dance rehearsals, and music immersion for nearly a year. Garner was chosen from a pool of high-profile actresses and musicians—including Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, and Odessa Young—following a grueling “Madonna Bootcamp” audition process involving choreography, acting, and singing.
Garner has spoken in recent interviews about the enormous responsibility of portraying a living icon. “It’s not just about looking or sounding like her,” Garner explained. “It’s about understanding her drive, her pain, her vision. Madonna redefined what it meant to be a woman in control of her own story—and that’s what this role is about.”
Cultural Significance and Fan Expectations
The Madonna biopic arrives at a time when music biopics have surged in popularity and cultural relevance. Films like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, and Elvis have proven that audiences are hungry for intimate, behind-the-scenes stories of music legends. But Madonna’s story promises to be different—less about the myth, more about the rebellion behind it.
She was a pop provocateur, a feminist firebrand, a fashion icon, and a lightning rod for controversy. From battling misogyny in the male-dominated music industry to reinventing herself across decades, Madonna’s life reads like a script that almost defies belief. If executed well, the film could be a landmark moment not just for Garner, but for the music biopic genre as a whole.
What’s Next?
With filming set to begin in the coming weeks, the spotlight is firmly on Garner and Madonna. The Steven Meisel photoshoot has already stirred buzz across social media and fashion circles, reminding everyone of Madonna’s enduring visual influence—and offering a tantalizing preview of what’s to come.
The road ahead for the Madonna biopic may still hold challenges, but for now, the first shots are ready, the cameras are poised, and a new Madonna is about to take the stage—this time through the eyes of Julia Garner.
Stay tuned. The era of True Blue is about to be reborn on the big screen.
