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The canned MADONNA biopic has left Universal with an estimated loss of $12 million, a Hollywood source exclusively told The US Sun.
The project was scrapped this week by universal images after the Queen of Pop, 64, announced a big world touralthough it is believed that the decision was made earlier.
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First green light in 2020, the movie it was scheduled to be directed and co-written by the same Like a Virgin star.
ozark actress julia garner28, won the coveted role of Virgin after overcoming tough competition from other young stars like Florence Pugh Y Sydney Sweeney in grueling boot camp style auditions.
Meanwhile, on the writing front, OscarJuno-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody was hired to craft the script.
But in April 2021, The US Sun reported that Cody, 44, had quit after finding Madonna too difficult to work with.
Playwright and author Erin Cressida Wilson was subsequently hired to work on another draft of the script.
It is understood that a final version was never produced and there were talks about splitting the film in two or even turning it into a miniseries.
A well-placed source from Tinseltown said the united states sun that the entire development process has probably already cost Universal anywhere from $10 million to $12 million.
It means that if another studio wants to pick up the film, it would have to reimburse Universal for its expenses just to have the right to start over from the beginning, the source said.
The source explained: “They started spending money on this project in 2020, which included millions for Madonna and her manager Guy Oseary to license the rights to Madonna’s story and her music, plus millions spent on writing and directing fees for Madonna and Devil”. Cody’s top notch writing fare as a former Oscar winner.
“Then there were the dance and ‘boot camp’ elements of the casting process, which took months of everyone’s time.
“When you spend millions and millions on a project without a final script, there will be a moment of control, and that’s what happened here.”
Auditions for the project saw the actresses drilled in 11-hour choreography sessions led by Madonna.
They also underwent readings with the music legend and more auditions where they had to sing in front of her.
The US Sun reported yesterday that Universal executives were less than impressed by Madonna’s bizarre performance. social media posts in recent months while he was supposed to be working on the movie.
It has been embroiled in various controversies after publishing a series of wacky videos on Tik Tok Y instagram.
The mom of six’s insistence on retaining “Near total” control of the project proved to be a bridge too far and convicted him, according to The US Sun informant.
But despite the sunk cost to the studio, the source says that for Madonna the project was always about artistic credibility rather than cash.
The source said: “There is no question that Madonna will make more money on her Celebration tour than if she had spent 2023 making the Madonna movie.
“This was never about money and Madonna has made more money in her career than she knows what to do with.
“Making this film was an opportunity to finally prove herself as a filmmaker and artist outside of the songs and music videos she’s known for.
“Remember, she has been married to two film directors, Sean Penn Y ritchie boyand he wanted to show the world that he really learned something from the experience of watching these guys put together their directing careers.”
Madonna previously directed two feature films, the 2008 drama Filth and Wisdom and 2011’s WE about King Edward VIII’s abdication of the British throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
His music tour is scheduled to kick off in July and will highlight music from the entirety of his glittering career of more than 40 years.
Sold out shows in NY, London, Parisand other cities in a matter of minutes.
Sources close to Madonna told Variety that touring is now her “sole focus,” but she remains committed to making the movie about her life one day.
The US Sun has contacted representatives for Madonna and Universal Pictures for comment.
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