David Lynch, renowned for his unique filmmaking style, often worked with Barry Gifford, a talented writer with whom he shared creative synergies throughout his career. Their collaborations include the adaptation of Gifford’s novel Wild at Heart into a film, two episodes for Lynch’s HBO series Hotel Room, and the co-writing of Lost Highway. However, not all their ideas came to fruition, and one particularly intriguing project, which would have featured Madonna, never made it past the planning stages.
In a recent feature celebrating David Lynch’s legacy in Empire, Barry Gifford reflected on his experiences working with the iconic director. One of the standout revelations from Gifford’s tribute was a film project they had in mind for Madonna in the 1990s. This idea came up after the success of Wild at Heart, when producer Monty Montgomery approached Gifford and Lynch with the idea of developing a story that Madonna could star in.
Gifford shared some details about the plot that never materialized. He described the concept as revolving around a woman working in a remote bar, navigating conflicts with the men she interacted with. This story, which was initially written by Gifford, had potential for deep, intense drama. There was also another idea on the table involving a battery with an extraordinary power source—one that could potentially last forever—and had some connection to extraterrestrial themes.
While the project remained just a concept, it reflects the type of creative partnership that Gifford and Lynch had, filled with bold ideas and unconventional narratives. Unfortunately, this particular project was one of many that never saw the light of day, but it remains a fascinating “what if” in the long and varied history of David Lynch’s film career. The unmade movie with Madonna is just one of the many unrealized ideas that highlight Lynch’s constant push toward unique and experimental storytelling.
Looking back at Lynch’s body of work, it’s clear that the unmade projects, like this one with Madonna, showcase his willingness to explore new and unexpected territories in cinema. Despite this collaboration not coming to fruition, it serves as an interesting glimpse into the types of daring ventures that never materialized but could have changed the trajectory of his career and the entertainment world.
