Now Madonna gets into the biopic groove
No one knows the life of Madonna Louise Ciccone better than... well, Madonna.
Which is why the superstar singer, actress and cultural icon (right) is considering picking up the directing reins on a film project she had previously expressed disdain for.
Last year, when the pop monarch heard about a script by elyse Hollander called Blond Ambition ( named after Madonna’s nineties tour) that chronicled her rise from talented citizen to anointed pop royalty, she let it be known that she wasn’t amused.
In an Instagram post, Madonna stormed: ‘nobody knows what I know and what I have seen. only I can tell my own story.
‘Anyone else who tries is a charlatan and a fool. Looking for instant gratification without doing the work. This is a disease in our society.’
Hollander’s screenplay was highly regarded by those who read it ( though, clearly not Madonna).
The film was put into development by producer Michael De Luca and Universal Pictures. Since then, though, it has languished somewhat because the singer would not grant permission to use original songs from early in her career.
However, I understand that Madonna — who turned 60 last summer — has recently come to the realisation that she does want a celluloid record of how she conquered the world of music, fashion and film, seemingly simultaneously. The idea put to me by film executives is that Madonna is thinking about directing the film herself.
If she can’t shut the project down, then she might as well control it from within — a nd make a film to her specifications.
She’s certainly good at casting — witness the smart hiring of Andrea Riseborough to portray the Duchess of Windsor in W.e. — and has a great sense of screen style.
But as we also saw from W.e. ( which she again directed), Madonna needs a strong producer and dramatist to work with her.
The star’s first chart hit was Holiday. The proposed film will focus on how that song got her the record deal that forged her career.
The Material Woman’s thoughts about making the movie are on the money.
Since the success of Bohemian Rhapsody — and with Rocketman, a fantasy based on the life of elton John, due out next month ( footage I’ve seen is great, I just hope the discussions about whether to cut a sex scene are sorted out) — rock music on the big screen is hot.