Like a master chess player tired of opponents who refuse to make bold moves, Madonna has reportedly outmaneuvered traditional studios by taking her life story to Netflix. According to industry sources, the iconic artist has partnered with producer Shawn Levy to develop a limited series chronicling her boundary-shattering career.
This streaming pivot follows the collapse of a high-profile Universal Pictures biopic that was shelved in 2023. What was once envisioned as a two-hour film—about as adequate for capturing Madonna’s four decades of cultural disruption as a shot glass is for containing Niagara Falls—will now have room to breathe as a multi-episode series.
“I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer – a human being, trying to make her way in this world,” Madonna stated when first announcing her biographical aspirations in 2020.
Netflix representatives declined to comment on the development, which remains in early stages. Industry insiders indicate Madonna will serve as executive producer, while Levy’s production company 21 Laps is best known for creating signature hits for the streaming giant.
Hollywood Said “Too Much” – Madonna Said “Not Enough”
Madonna reportedly indicated that her unconventional life story demanded an unconventional approach to storytelling, suggesting traditional film formats were insufficient for her narrative.
Industry insiders familiar with the project reported Madonna had been working on the Universal biopic for several years, facing challenges in condensing her expansive career into a standard feature length.
“I’ve had an extraordinary life, I must make an extraordinary film,” Madonna told Variety in 2022. “It was also a preemptive strike because a lot of people were trying to make movies about me. Mostly misogynistic men. So I put my foot in the door and said, ‘No one’s going to tell my story but me.’”
Julia Garner: From “Ozark” to Madonna Biopic?
While specifics about scope remain under wraps, sources suggest Julia Garner—originally tapped to play Madonna in the Universal project—remains connected to the developing series. According to industry reports, the actress previously underwent intensive preparation for the role, including choreography sessions with Madonna’s team.
Their professional relationship was publicly showcased when Garner appeared on stage during Madonna’s Celebration Tour in December 2023—a moment that generated significant buzz among fans and industry observers alike.
For Garner, already a three-time Emmy winner with multiple Netflix hits under her belt, portraying one of music’s most influential icons would represent a significant career challenge. The potential hurdle? Scheduling conflicts. Garner recently signed on for another Netflix limited series about the FTX cryptocurrency scandal, demonstrating her continued relationship with the streaming platform.
The Perfect Match: A Strategic Partnership
The reported collaboration with Levy resembles that moment when the right DJ finally understands the vibe of the room. For a creator who has consistently pushed cultural boundaries, partnering with a mainstream producer signals a strategic approach to ensuring her vision reaches audiences without compromising its essence.
Levy’s portfolio spans the nostalgia-driven “Stranger Things,” critically acclaimed “All the Light We Cannot See,” and limited series “The Perfect Couple.” His recent expansion into directing “Deadpool & Wolverine” suggests a filmmaker comfortable with both emotional depth and irreverent spectacle—qualities that Madonna’s career has embodied throughout her decades in entertainment.
The partnership also aligns with Netflix’s investment in exploring complex cultural figures. Similar to how “Pam & Tommy” examined media exploitation and “Daisy Jones & The Six” captured rock culture, Madonna’s series could potentially offer an in-depth look at an artist who has consistently challenged conventional expectations throughout her career.
Beyond the Hits: A Legacy That Deserves Space
Madonna’s impact extends far beyond her chart success. According to her own accounts, she arrived in New York with minimal resources and transformed herself into not just a cultural icon but one of the top 10 richest female musicians in the world, with an estimated 400 million records sold worldwide. Throughout her career, she has systematically challenged expectations of how female artists should behave, create, and evolve.
From controversies surrounding “Like a Prayer” that drew criticism from religious authorities to publishing her boundary-pushing “Sex” book that generated significant public reaction, Madonna has consistently engaged with controversy. Her career spans from the AIDS crisis—where she was an advocate when many stayed silent—through the digital revolution, continuously adapting while maintaining cultural relevance across decades.
This expansive legacy makes the limited series format particularly fitting. Rather than condensing religious imagery controversies, high-profile relationships, and groundbreaking performances into a two-hour biopic (the entertainment equivalent of wearing shoes two sizes too small), the series structure allows her story room to breathe.
While no production timeline has been announced, industry observers note that after decades of pushing boundaries on her own terms, Madonna appears to have found a platform that might finally allow her to tell her story with the depth and nuance it deserves. In the streaming era, Madonna remains what she’s always been: resistant to conventional formats.
