Madonna Biopic: The Cutthroat Audition to Play the Material Girl Icon

A biopic of Madonna, the 63-year-old, genre-defying pop icon with 335 million records to her reputation, has been in the works for a few years. It appears to be gaining traction with casting rumors and stories about a “grueling” audition process recently making headlines. In 2020, the singer-songwriter stated that she would be starring in, co-writing, and directing a film about her life. Madonna claims that her active participation is because men directed previous films about her biography. For her, this film is about reclaiming her own story as much as it is about telling it.

The real question is: who would have the honor of playing the Queen of Pop? No one imagines being Madonna to be a simple task. Her rise to popularity in the 1980s was hard-won, and she proved that hard work, passion, and dedication were equal if not greater forces than singing and dancing ability.

"Remembering all the things that made me decide to be who I am, my journey as an artist, my decision to leave Michigan to go to New York, all the things that happened to me when I was young and naïve, my relationships with my family and friends, watching many of my friends die – sometimes, I have writing sessions where I go to bed and I just want to cry."

So let’s face it: no one can play Madonna better than Madonna, but many Hollywood stars will undoubtedly give their all. They have reportedly signed up for “Madonna Bootcamp” in the hopes of landing the coveted role in the upcoming biopic about the Material Girl. The Madonna hopefuls have been undergoing singing, script readings, and intense dance training from Madonna’s choreographer and Madonna herself, lasting up to 11 hours each day! Rumor has it that after they choose the show’s star, she’ll still have to go through several months of intense preparation before filming can begin.

Among the frontrunners for the role are Julia Garner, Florence Pugh, and Alexa Demie. With that in mind, we give our two cents on who could play the rebel heart herself, including the pros and cons!

Julia Garner

Pros: It’s the hair! Garner’s gorgeous curls instantly raise her to Madge-like status. She also has the range: in addition to Anna Delvey, she portrayed Ruth Langmore in the dark Netflix series Ozark. Her star is rising and would be the ideal part to help her reach new heights.

Cons: According to reports, the role requires an all-rounder who can sing, dance, and act. Can she sing and dance? Due to the scarcity of video evidence, she may be in trouble.

Florence Pugh

Pros: Pugh proved she could pull off impersonations when she played real-life professional wrestler Paige in Fighting With My Family. Plus, she’s a chameleon, seamlessly sporting a pixie cut and the long blonde locks required to play Madonna. She’ll play the part so convincingly that you’ll forget it’s not the actual thing.

Cons: Although she loves to show off her crazy dancing on TikTok and Instagram, can Pugh pull off a hyper-choreographed Madonna dance? The verdict is in.

Alexa Demie

Pros: Demie is the person to call if you want to add some glamor to your party. She also has musical skills for the part, has released two songs on Spotify ahead of a rumored EP release, and has experience serving high drama courtesy of her role in the hit program Euphoria.

Cons: Demie doesn’t have as many TV or film appearances as other heavy hitters like Garner and Pugh, but that might be an advantage when playing a bona fide icon.