Madonna wants a 'gritter' biopic

The life of the pop star, 64, - who recently announced a 40th anniversary tour - was due to be immortalised in an upcoming film starring 'Iventing Anna' actress Julia Garner but the project was recently scrapped and an insider has claimed it is because Madonna disagreed with the way her story was being told on screen.

A source told PageSix: "Madonna will someday make a film about her life. But this tour is the creative and professional focus for M right now. Basically, [Universal] doesn't like it. They want it to be pop and light. Madonna wants something much grittier, and it’s come to a stalemate."

The source went on to add that the 'Like A Virgin'' hitmaker - who had previously worked with Oscar-winning writer Diablo Cody on the project before replacing her with Erin Wilson - is willing to change studios and is keeping the same script but will recast if necessary.

The source added: "She’d rather go to another studio than change the script. She still wants to make the film, but will now look at it again after the tour. She’s keeping the same writers, but is aware that she might have to recast if the actors aren’t available."

Madonna previously admitted that writing the script for the biopic had been a "challenging experience".

She said: "Writing my script is the most draining, challenging experience I’ve ever had. It’s kind of like psychotherapy in a way, because I have to remember every detail from my childhood till now. 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 naive, my relationships with my family and friends, watching many of my friends die."

From Bang Showbiz

Madonna Biopic Starring Julia Garner Scrapped as Singer Embarks on World Tour

The anticipated biopic of music legend Madonna is taking an indefinite holiday. The project, which the icon was going to direct herself, is no longer in development at Universal Pictures, multiple sources told Variety.

Speculation over the fate of the movie began instantly after Madonna announced a career-spanning world tour last week — one that sold out shows in New York, London, Paris and other cities in minutes. Insiders familiar with Madonna said her sole focus Is the tour, but she remains committed to making a film about her life one day.

Representatives for Madonna, Garner and Universal Pictures declined to comment on the matter.

While announced in 2020, development on the film lingered on through the end of 2022. Madonna worked on two script drafts encompassing large periods of her creative and personal life. An earlier version was written with Oscar winner Diablo Cody (their writing sessions were widely disseminated on social media). Erin Cressida Wilson (“Secretary,” “The Girl on the Train”) took a second pass. Last June, Variety broke the news that Emmy and Golden Globe winner Garner had won the role of the pop icon. It followed a grueling weekslong bake-off among a group of young actors (including Florence Pugh, “Euphoria” star Alexa Demie, Odessa Young and Bebe Rexha) who attended singing and dancing bootcamp.

Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Chairman Donna Langley brought the project to the studio with producer Amy Pascal, whose eponymous production company is set up on the Uni lot. Sara Zambreno and longtime Madonna manager Guy Oseary were set to executive produce. The project would have marked a reunion for Madonna and Pascal, who worked together on the 1992 baseball classic “A League of Their Own.”

Madonna has two feature films to her name as a director: “Filth and Wisdom,” a 2008 dramedy set in the U.K., and 2011’s “W.E.”, a historical romance about King Edward VIII’s abdication of the British throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

From Variety.com

Madonna 'Almost Finished' Writing Script for Upcoming Biopic

A Madonna biopic is on the way, as the Material Girl herself confirms via Instagram with a series of fashionable photos and teasers.

"Grateful for the success of Madame, that my script is almost finished, and for the support of my beautiful children!" reads the caption, referencing her recent release of her Madame X concert film on Paramount+.

The pop icon shared nine photos, most of which feature Madonna sprawled out on her luxurious rug wearing leather, white sunglasses and black fingerless gloves. With a closer look, the images of the script reveal possible topics like her time as a drummer in Breakfast Club back in 1979, and her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Madonna (@madonna)

The mother of six also shared a photo of some of her children in front of visuals from her 2003 artist collaboration with Steven Klein, X-STaTIC PRO=CeSS.

In the hashtags, she named Secretary screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson, who is no stranger to Madonna's Instagram, as seen in the background of the first photo. It was also recently announced that Oscar winner Diablo Cody will co-write the Madonna biopic script.

In a previous interview with Rolling Stone, Madonna opened up about her struggles in putting together the script and said it had been "the most draining, challenging experience I’ve ever had." She adds: "It’s kind of like psychotherapy in a way, because I have to remember every detail from my childhood till now."

Casting for Madonna's biopic has yet to be announced. The singer is credited as co-screenwriter, producer and director.

From Billboard.com

Madonna Wants Florence Pugh to Be Her Material Girl in Upcoming Biopic

It seems like Madonna might have found her "Material Girl" in Florence Pugh.

On Thursday, Sept. 23, the iconic pop star spoke to the Associated Press about her upcoming biopic at the New York premiere for her new concert documentary Madame X, revealing that she's still in the early stages of planning and the cast hasn't been chosen yet.

However, it seems Madge has her eyes set on the Little Women actress, who has the perfect background for the role. Madonna shared, "She's definitely up there on the list, if she'll have me."

Though Florence is primarily known for her acting, she's also a singer, who performs under the name Flossie Rose. The 25-year-old occasionally posts covers of popular songs to her YouTube account and sang backup vocals on brother Toby Sebastian's single "Midnight."

In other words, she'd be the perfect choice to play Madonna.

From E! Online

Diablo Cody didn't 'quit' Madonna biopic despite reports: studio source

Reports swirled earlier this week that Diablo Cody had shown Madonna's self-directed biopic the power of goodbye, but EW can confirm that the pair turned in a finished, final draft of the script they spent months working on throughout 2020.

A studio source at Universal, where the film is gestating, tells EW that reports of the Oscar-winning Juno screenwriter's 'departure' from the movie have been exaggerated, and that Cody simply completed her work and moved on to her next project.

Cody and Madonna recently delivered a completed draft of the film to the studio, which is looking at developing the current version ahead of production. It's unclear whether additional work will be done on the version the women turned in, as big-budget productions normally go through rewrites, treatments, and polishing before shooting begins.

The Sun first reported news of Cody's alleged exit, indicating difficulties between the two reportedly leading to Cody's decision to walk away. Representatives for Cody and Madonna didn't respond to EW's requests for comment.

After months of teasing a secret project with Cody throughout 2020, Madonna announced in September that they had indeed been working on a biopic about her life that she would direct herself, and further revealed extensive plot details that the writer-director pair had included so far in the unfinished draft's first 107 pages.

Elsewhere, Cody is working in Atlanta to bring the CW's live-action Powerpuff Girls adaptation to life as the project's executive producer and writer. Chloe Bennet (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Dove Cameron (Descendants), and Yana Perrault (Jagged Little Pill) are set to star in the prospective series.

A release date for the currently untitled Madonna biopic has yet to be announced.

From EW.com

Madonna to Co-Write and Direct Her Own Movie Biopic: The Focus of It 'Will Always Be Music'

Madonna is still taking the reins!

On Tuesday, the global superstar confirmed she is co-writing and directing an upcoming movie biopic about her life.

Madonna, who last directed the 2011 film W.E., will be co-writing the script with Oscar-winning Juno scribe Diablo Cody.

"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, 62, said on her website. "The focus of this film will always be music. Music has kept me going and art has kept me alive."

"There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me," she continued. "It's essential to share the roller coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision."

The film is being developed with producer Amy Pascal, who has previously worked with the singer on the 1992 film A League of Their Own. The movie will be a Universal production.

Another script about the singer's life, Blond Ambition, was in development at Universal. Blond Ambition was written by Elyse Hollander, who topped the 2016 Black List with what was deemed by roughly 500 studio executives as the best un-produced screenplay in Hollywood.

Madonna slammed the project in April 2017 on Instagram, writing, "Nobody knows what I know and what I have seen."

"Only I can tell my story. Anyone else who tries is a charlatan and a fool," she wrote at the time. "Looking for instant gratification without doing the work. This is a disease in our society."

Since then, the "Vogue" singer has been hard at work developing her own life story, sharing videos and photographs of herself conducting research for the project on her social media accounts.

From People.com

Are you ready for the story of my life?

Are you ready for the story of my life....................✍️ Am I? #livetotell #diablocody #screenplay pic.twitter.com/eqEKgfBL77

— Madonna (@Madonna) September 11, 2020

Diablo Cody's Madonna Biopic to Feature Warhol, Basquiat, Lloyd Webber

Madonna and Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody spoke at length recently about a new biopic they're writing about the performer's rise to superstardom and her influence over popular culture.

Speaking during an Instagram Live session, Madonna and Cody said they've written about 100 pages of the film. The as-yet-untitled project will cover Madonna's early days in New York, where she ran in artistic circles that included queer legends like Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, who Madonna had a relationship with, will also figure in the film.

The film will have comedic elements to it, Entertainment Weekly reported the duo as saying, with amusing appearances from Warhol and Madonna's sister, Paula Ciccone.

The movie will also cover Madonna after she became a household name, including the making of her lauded Like a Prayer album, as well as her Golden Globe-winning turn as Evita in the 1996 film of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. In the Instagram session, Madonna said she often sparred with Webber, though the iconic composer disputed that description to EW.

Not disregarded will be the "Vogue" era, when Madonna borrowed - some say appropriated - from the queer POC ball community for one of her biggest hits. One scene will depict her first meeting with ball icons Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza and Luis Xtravaganza.

There has not been an official casting notice, but Madonna seems to be leaning toward 26-year-old Ozark actress Julia Garner to play her. Watch the Instagram Live session below.

From The Advocate

Madonna teases biopic, slams ‘Evita’ composer Andrew Lloyd Webber

Madonna’s COVID diaries took a detour on Thursday.

The “Vogue” singer, 62, posted a more than hourlong Instagram Live video of herself working with “Juno” screenwriter Diablo Cody on her biopic. Several times during the video, Cody can be seen surreptitiously giving Jim Halpert-esque looks to the camera a la “The Office.”

The meandering video opens with the pair discussing a scene where Madonna’s sister Paula Ciccone confronts the singer in London while she was filming director Alan Parker’s screen adaptation of the musical “Evita.”

“I was totally and utterly intimidated by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and the story of Eva Perón, the real historical story, and living up to all the great singers and actresses who had played her before me,” the “Like a Virgin” chanteuse remembered. “I think I had a few nervous breakdowns worrying that I was going to be fired every day, basically.”

She then revealed that Webber wasn’t particularly kind to her.

“He was not nice to me,” she claimed. “I’m not sure he even wanted me in the movie. Thank God, Alan Parker did.”

Rick Miramontez, a spokesman for Lloyd Webber wrote in a statement: “She must have Andrew confused with somebody else. Andrew and Madonna had a very smooth and productive working relationship on the ‘Evita’ film.”

One person involved with the musical - Patti LuPone, who originated the role on Broadway - thinks Madonna was terrible in the movie.

“I thought it was a piece of s - - t,” she told “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen in 2017. “Madonna is a movie killer.” From nypost.com

I keep forgetting that I'm writing about myself

I keep forgetting that Im writing about myself........... I can’t make shit up! But in fact I dont need to. The truth will set you free and also be devastating! 😨😀😬😂 #screenplay #diablocody #movie pic.twitter.com/Gs4lRa9K0K

— Madonna (@Madonna) September 8, 2020

Madonna follows Ozark’s Julia Garner on Instagram and now fans are tipping her to play the pop icon in a biopic

Madonna has followed Ozark actress Julia Garner on Instagram, leading fans to speculate whether the star could pay the Material Girl in an upcoming biopic. The singer’s decision to follow Julia has to mean something - she only follows a total of 287 people. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact Madonna’s long-time manager Guy Oseary is also recently started following the 26-year-old. Furthermore, Julia follows Madonna on the networking site.

Reacting to the social media movements on Twitter, one fan said: ‘Madonna is now following ozarks Julia garner…. will she be playing M in the biopic?? I hope so…she’s amazing [sic].’ Another said: ‘Madonna and Guy Oseary just followed Julia Garner on IG. Um…. Diablo Cody-written biopic??!!’ A third got hyper-specific about the film’s potential plot, saying: ‘IMMEDIATE NEXT THOUGHT: Julia Garner playing Madonna playing Susan in Desperately Seeking Susan.’ Why not?

Curiously, Madonna, Guy and Julia also recently began following Lana Del Rey, while Guy also recently started following Jojo Rabbit director Taika Waititi. Perhaps we’re reading too much into things, but Madonna, Julia, Lana and Takia would make quite a team…

Madonna knows a thing or two about movies, by the way, having won plaudits for Evita and Who’s That Girl. Julia, meanwhile, is known for her work on films like The Assistant and We Are What We Are.

From Metro.co.uk

Madonna 'pens a screenplay about her rise to stardom'

Iconic pop star Madonna is reportedly writing a screenplay based on her rise to the top of pop.

Madonna is writing a screenplay based on her rise to the top of pop.

The 61-year-old star is reportedly working on the project alongside Diablo Cody, who wrote the 2007 comedy-drama 'Juno', and Madonna has turned to her diaries and archives of notes in search of some inspiration.

A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column: ''Madonna is undoubtedly one of the biggest superstars of all time so a movie about her life would be explosive, scandalous and intriguing.

'As an artist she wants to have full control of it so is getting really involved in the entire thing. In 2023 she will be marking the 40th anniversary of her debut album and this would be the perfect way to do it.'

Speculation about the movie comes shortly after Madonna was said to be on the cusp of signing an eight-figure deal to return to Warner Records.

The iconic pop star was recently rumoured to be set to rejoin the label which helped launch her career, after releasing three albums via Interscope.

An insider said earlier this month: 'Madonna is still a force to be reckoned with. The fact is, she sells records, people around the world adore her and every label would love to have her on their books. Now that her deal with Interscope has come to an end, she is a free agent and can choose where to go next - and Warner feels like the best place given their history.' However, Madonna - who is one of the best-selling artists of all time - is set to ''command big money''.

The source explained: 'Madonna comes at a hefty price. She can command big money and wants to make sure whatever deal she signs is the best thing for her and her music.'

From contactmusic.com

Madonna so bored at home that she’s writing a secret screenplay with Juno writer Diablo Cody

Madonna had us screaming with excitement as she revealed she’s been writing a screenplay with Juno writer Diablo Cody.

We need to know if this is her biopic or not. Madonna can be heard saying: ‘All these details are important,’ before detailing an outfit she once wore which included garters.

She then began goofing around, placing two peanuts up her nose and maybe she has been stuck in the house for too long. It looks like Madonna has been busy starting new projects and ending old relationships as it had been reported she will be leaving Interscope Records after nearly 10 years. She is apparently entertaining a deal at Warner Records, according to The Sun, where she initially started her decades-long career. The new ‘eight-figure’ deal could bring her back to her original roots.

From Metro.co.uk

View this post on Instagram

with multiple injuries what do you do.? ...........Write a Screenplay with Diablo Cody about..............📖🎥🎬🎤🎼🖤? #nuts #iconic #walk #serve #diablo

A post shared by Madonna (@madonna) on Aug 7, 2020 at 6:39pm PDT

'Like a Prayer': A Documentary Film About Madonna Fans

New Screening Dates Announced in the West Coast and in NYC!

After a successful screening in NYC last month, The Documentary Film about Madonna fans called 'Like a Prayer' by Oxana Nabokova will have private fundraiser screenings on the West Coast in San Francisco, on June 23rd, L.A. on June 26th, and San Diego June 28th. Due to popular Demand, we have added one more private showing in NYC on July 1, 2019 .

Tickets are available below!
Don't miss the film every Madonna fan is talking about!

Movie Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzvaLCiXWRI
Q&A with Director/Cast: https://youtu.be/Gm4_eQLk06s

Sunday, June 23rd San Francisco Screening of 'Like a Prayer' at The Presidio Theatre
RSVP: www.facebook.com/events/429302161216064/
For tickets: https://likeaprayersanfran.eventbrite.com

Wednesday, June 26th Los Angeles Screening of 'Like a Prayer' at the Downtown Independent
RSVP: www.facebook.com/events/1063359453873952/
For tickets: https://likeaprayerlosangeles.eventbrite.com

Friday, June 28th San Diego Screening of 'Like a Prayer' at the Mission Valley 20 AMC Theater
RSVP www.facebook.com/events/2144876242297184/
For tickets: https://likeaprayersandiego.eventbrite.com

Monday, July 1st NYC Screening of 'Like a Prayer' at the AMC Theater in Times Square
RSVP: www.facebook.com/events/375777879811533/
For tickets: https://likeaprayernyc.eventbrite.com

Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher considering Madonna film next

Director of Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, Dexter Fletcher, has said he would like to tackle a Madonna biopic next.

Fletcher has had a successful couple of years, bringing out Bohemian Rhapsody about the life of Freddie Mercury and Queen in October 2018 and Rocketman about Elton John last week, 22 May 2019. Yet the director is not done with telling the life stories of global music stars, as he has admitted he would love to work on a film about Madonna next.

The music-enthusiast told Gay Star News: ‘I’d do Madonna! That sounds like a real rollercoaster ride! It would be extraordinary.’ Madonna, who is now 60, rose to fame in the 1980s and became known as the ‘Queen of Pop’ for influencing other artists and always experimenting with her music. Fletcher admitted that making a film about Madonna had not occurred to him before now and he feels unsure whether the Like a Virgin singer would be on board with it. ‘I don’t know how happy she’d be, but what an extraordinary life that would be. ‘If I was to tackle any other icon like that, it would be her. She’s extraordinary.’

Yet the Like A Prayer star did not take well to the announcement of a documentary about her early life back in April 2017. When Universal announced the making of Blonde Ambition, Madonna took to Instagram to say ‘only I can tell my story’. She voiced her opposition to Universal’s project in her post: ‘Nobody knows what I know and what I have seen. ‘Only I can tell my 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.’ Despite this backlash, director Guy Guido went ahead and made another film about Madonna last year.

Released in August 2018, the docudrama is called Madonna and The Breakfast Club and looks at how the singer’s rise to fame was by no means quick. In fact, it gives an honest account of her struggles when she quit as drummer in the band she was in with her then boyfriend to go it alone.

It is unknown whether Madonna had input into this film, but it seems Fletcher would be safest to get the singer’s permission if he were to base his next project on her. Then again, he can probably afford to have a break for now since Bohemian Rhapsody made over £715m globally while Rocketman snapped up £5.38m in the UK box office on its open weekend over the Bank Holiday.

From Metro.co.uk

Madonna gets into the groove for a biopic on her rise to anointed pop royalty

No one knows the life of Madonna Louise Ciccone better than...well, Madonna.

Which is why the superstar singer, actress and cultural icon 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 - and 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.

By BAZ BAMIGBOYE / www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz

'Like a Prayer: A Documentary Film'

'Like a Prayer: A Documentary Film' directed by Oksana Nabokova is complete and fans are invited to attend the exclusive and private NYC Screening!

Save the Date : Sunday, May 5th, 2019 Location: Time Square, NYC!

Oksana Nabokova has this to say about the film:

I have worked independently on the film production of 'Like a Prayer' for close to three and half years. I met many Madonna fans around the world during my travels and found that there were many special stories to be shared. I hired a film editor in Russia and film crews all over the world to help me document these stories of some of Madonnas most devoted fans. This film is about finding yourself, following your dreams and not caring what people think. Funding this project completely on my own has been a very difficult challenge but I am proud of the results and after an initial test screening of my film it is one step closer to finally being released everywhere.

Now that my film is complete I still have to raise additional money for post production costs including: securing a lawyer to go over the legal copyrights of the movie, as well as getting an insurance company to insure the film and promotion costs to hire a PR team. These are going to be very costly but necessary expenses that I currently can't afford on my own.

I decided the best way to raise money for these final post production expenses, was to put together a private event to invite fellow fans to help contribute to this films release. As a way of saying thank you, you will be able to get tickets to attend the private screening of my film 'Like a Prayer' as well tickets to the official after-party, immediately following the screening. Plus there will be a Madonna swag bag giveaway contest by the end of the night that will go to one very lucky winner!

All ticket sales will go towards the final costs of having the movie available for world wide distribution.

Tickets for this screening are available exclusively only at www.purplepass.com

With your support, you will help get this film to a world wide audience!

'Madonna and the Breakfast Club' Docudrama Gets March Release Date

Before she became the Queen of Pop, Madonna was an unknown musician in New York City, who was a part of an '80s pop group called the Breakfast Club. An upcoming docudrama titled, Madonna and the Breakfast Club, will follow the life of a pre-fame Madonna before she became the pop legend that she is today.

The film starts with Madonna during her early days as a drummer, guitarist, keyboard player, and songwriter for the Breakfast Club. She had formed the group in 1979 with Dan Gilroy, who she had been dating at the time. As the film progresses, Madonna gets more involved with the band’s music, and begins to develop her own identity as an artist.

The docudrama will be split between reenacted scenes from Madonna’s time with the band, alongside recent interviews with Gilroy, his brother Ed, and bandmate Gary Burke scattered throughout the film. The film was produced by Guy Guido and Paul Castro Jr., and stars Jamie Auld as Madonna. Auld’s uncanny resemblance to the pop icon is incredibly realistic, and is sure to intrigue longtime fans of the singer.

'We filmed in the same locations Madonna once walked and performed in, incorporating the exact instruments she played, including the real guitar she used to write her first songs,' Guido said. 'It was surreal to capture Jamie in the drama that would eventually lead to Madonna pursuing her solo career.'

While Madonna left the Breakfast Club well before even their first single was released in 1984, the band would go on to some Billboard chart success with the release of their self-titled debut LP in 1987, which peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. That set featured the group's biggest hit, 'Right on Track,' which hit No. 7 in March 1987.

The film is set to release across digital and video on-demand platforms by The Orchard on March 12.

From Billboard.com

Antonio Banderas calls Madonna ‘the most committed artist’ he’s ever worked with

In 1996, Antonio Banderas starred with pop icon Madonna in the musical drama Evita, in which Madonna starred in the role of Eva Péron and Banderas played Argentinian everyman Ché. While Madonna’s casting was controversial, Banderas had nothing but love reflecting back on his costar. 'She was totally into this character. It was actually great working with her,' he tells Lola Ogunnaike, host of PeopleTV’s Couch Surfing.

The actor recalls a day filming at La Casa Rosada - the residence of the Argentinian President, akin to the White House, where Madonna showed her commitment to the film: 'She got an idea with [director] Alan Parker: we have 5,000 extras in the Plaza de Mayo where she has to give a speech - 'Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.' So she came dressed as Eva Duarte de Perón, shooting with no rehearsal, no nothing, and the extras’ reaction was extraordinary. All of the extras started crying, and the cameras were shooting, so we captured all of that. It was one of those magic moments I will never forget.'

From EW.com

Madonna is making her comeback as a movie director

Madonna has announced that she’ll be making her directorial comeback at the helm of a new film about the life of Dutch National Ballet’s Michaela DePrince.

Taking Flight will tell the life story of the dancer who started life as a a war orphan in Sierra Leone before rising to worldwide acclaim as one of the most celebrated names in ballet. It will be an adaptation based on the memoir by Camilla Blackett.

'Michaela’s journey resonated with me deeply as both an artist and an activist who understands adversity,' said Madonna. 'We have a unique opportunity to shed light on Sierra Leone and let Michaela be the voice for all the orphaned children she grew up beside. I am honoured to bring her story to life.'

As well as acting in the likes of Evita, Dick Tracy, Swept Away, Shadows And Fog and Shanghai Surprise, Madonna’s directing credits include Filth And Wisdom, and 2011’s Wallis Simpson biopic W.E. Her work on the screen has been met with varying degrees of critical and commercial success.

As well as being among the rumours for headlining Glastonbury 2019, Madonna is also at work on her 14th album.

She has however, shot down rumours that a biopic of her own life was in the works at the hands of others.

'Nobody knows what I know and what I have seen,' she wrote on Twitter. 'Only I can tell my 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.'

From NME.com

So excited to be able to bring the story of this rare and talented soul to the world! 💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿. Michaela’s journey resonates with me deeply as both an artist and an activist who understands adversity. We have a unique opportunity to shed... https://t.co/M056G4w58M pic.twitter.com/vQ4ONTNGdQ

— Madonna (@Madonna) 14 March 2018

Matthew Modine Remembers Madonna's 'Vision Quest' Scene

1985 was the year a rising pop star named Madonna went supernova thanks to her starring role in the hit comedy Desperately Seeking Susan and her first blockbuster North American concert tour. But the singer didn’t look like the next big music sensation when she turned up on the set of the high school wrestling movie Vision Quest - which was released in February 1985, two months before Susan and the Virgin Tour - to film a small role as a nightclub singer serenading the movie’s stars, Matthew Modine and Linda Fiorentino.

'She looked like Boy George,' Modine tells Yahoo Movies. 'The producers were saying this girl was going to be such a big star, but I remember people not really being impressed.' Even her songs left listeners cold. First, she performed the largely forgotten 'Gambler,' followed by 'Crazy for You,' which has since become a staple of proms around the world, but slightly underwhelmed listeners at the time. 'We thought, ‘Oh, that’s a sweet song,‘' Modine says of hearing that slow dance anthem for the first time.

Within a year, though, the actor discovered just how big a star Madonna had become. While visiting Rome to discuss a potential film role, Modine saw a giant poster of the singer’s face, with 'Crazy for You' printed in Italian. 'I thought, ‘Oh, she must be doing a concert here.’ But then I looked at the poster a little bit closer and at the bottom I saw myself [in a scene from the film] with my arms in the air. The movie had gone from being a Matthew Modine movie that Madonna was in to a Madonna movie that Matthew Modine was in! That’s how fate would have it.'

Thirty-two years later, Vision Quest‘s Madonna-scored montages are among the highlights of a teen sports movie that’s clearly made in the image of The Karate Kid - a box-office sensation the year prior - but has its own unique moves. Available for the first time on Blu-ray, Vision Quest is notable for how it avoids giving the underdog hero, Lowden Swain (Modine), a Cobra Kai-style nemesis to defeat on the wrestling mat. Instead, his final opponent, Brian Shute (Frank Jasper), is presented as a decent guy who is on his own 'vision quest' - a self-imposed rite of passage that leads teenagers into adulthood. In Lowden’s case, that quest involves dropping 22 pounds to wrestle Brian, who is in a lower weight class.

From Yahoo! News

Madonna can't wait to see Snatched

Madonna posted this message and picture about her friend Amy Schumer's new film: 'OMG this movie looks like so much FUN!! 🔥🎉🎉🎉💯💯😂😂😂. Can't wait to see my good friend Amy in her new film. this weekend. #SNATCHED! 😂🤡🎉'

Coming to a theatre near YOU! 😂😂🎉🎉🤙🏻🤙🏻🤡🤡🙌🏻🙌🏻🔥🔥🎥🎥💯♥️ pic.twitter.com/1lgptgqOCj

— Madonna (@Madonna) May 11, 2017

Patti LuPone Says Madonna 'Should Not Be on Film or on Stage'

Patti LuPone is not a Madonna fan, clearly. The Broadway legend went off on Madge during Tuesday's (May 9) episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where she made it clear she doesn't care for Mad's singing, acting, or anything else, really.

The American Theater Hall of Famer took particular issue with Madonna's portrayal of Argentina's Eva Peron in the 1996 movie musical Evita, a role LuPone originated on Broadway in 1979. 'I thought it was a piece of s***,' she told host Cohen. 'Madonna is a movie killer.'

That hurt, but LuPone was not nearly done. 'She's dead behind the eyes. She couldn't act her way out of a paper bag. She should not be on film or on stage. She's a wonderful performer for what she does, but she is not an actress.'

The two-time Grammy and Tony Award winner went after Madonna when a caller asked if the two had ever spoken about their shared performances as the late First Lady of Argentina. She explained that she was performing in Anything Goes while Madonna was making her Broadway debut in David Mamet's Speed the Plow in 1988 when a press agent put a sign up that said 'there was only one diva allowed' in the theater at a time.

LuPone got a snicker out of that, but quickly followed up by saying that the only words Madonna has ever spoken to her were: 'I'm taller than you.' A spokesperson for Madonna could not be reached for comment.

From Billboard.com

Madonna brands planned biopic 'lies'

Madonna has stepped up her criticism of a planned biopic about her rise to fame, branding it 'lies'.

The music superstar voiced her anger at Blond Ambition, which will tell the story of her career in the early 1980s, after previously hinting she was unhappy with the proposed movie.

She posted snake emojis on Instagram alongside the names of film-makers Brett Ratner, Elyse Hollander and Universal Studios, which has reportedly picked up the project.

'Lies Have No Legs,' Madonna wrote.

Madonna also shared a message which read: 'Don’t worry about those who talk behind your back, they’re behind you for a reason.'

The 58-year-old had previously appeared to voice her displeasure at the planned film, writing on Instagram: 'Nobody knows what I know and what I have seen. Only I can tell my story. Anyone else who tries is a charlatan and a fool. Looking for instant gratification without doing the work.'

She added: 'This is a disease in our society.'

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hollander’s script is set in New York as Madonna Louise Ciccone works on her first album.

From PA Movies Via Yahoo! News

My Life..... My Journey....,,,My Voice......My Story....,,..📚 Let Me tell it. ✍️ 🎥 When Im Ready! 😂 It Will be Worth the Wait! 🙏🏻 Thank You. pic.twitter.com/URRhAKEHfs

— Madonna (@Madonna) 28 April 2017

Geena Davis spills 'League of Their Own' secrets on 25th anniversary

A League of Their Own has earned its place as one of America’s best sports comedies, selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2012.

As the film celebrates its 25th anniversary on July 1 (with a new special edition Blu-ray out now), Davis recounts her memories from the League set.

Madonna was a question mark: Davis admits she wasn’t sure what it would be like to work with Madonna, then in her prime.

'She was Madonna. We wondered if we were going to be able to talk to her. Was she going to have an entourage? Were they going to put up walls around her where she stands?' Davis recalls.

Ultimately, Madonna was a team player who trained hard and insisted on sliding head-first into bases. 'That was painful. But she was so game. She was a trooper,' says Davis.

From USA Today

Strike a Pose screening in London

UNICORN NIGHTS are bringing STRIKE A POSE to London's Prince Charles Cinema.

Last year, Unicorn Nights hosted two very successful screenings of the iconic film 'IN BED WITH MADONNA' [aka 'MADONNA : TRUTH OR DARE'], which detailed the pop singer's controversial Blond Ambition Tour. The film gave us to a glimpse into the lives of her seven backup dancers, who arguably stole the show.

25 years later, they are back and in STRIKE A POSE, the dancers are here to tell their side of the story. Tackling many of the controversial topics raised during and after the tour, the dancers reveal their struggle with acceptance and continue to show the world how to express themselves!

Unicorn Nights presents
STRIKE A POSE
Monday 24th April 20:45

To buy tickets visit www.princecharlescinema.com

'Strike a Pose' documentary to show in Detroit Freep Film Festival

They are the simplest of documentary conceits: Where are they now? What happened to them then? These are the two questions that 'Strike a Pose,' a documentary that focuses on Madonna’s 1990 'Blond Ambition World Tour' dancers, spends 83 minutes answering.

We know what happened to Madonna, who never left the limelight. But her coterie of male dancers - who worked so closely with her that the then-childless Madonna was like a mother to them - seemingly disappeared into the wind after a brief flurry of fame. The film is a role reversal, with six of the seven dancers (the last is shown through archival footage and family interviews) front and center on screen, while the Material Girl is a ghostly presence, seen in some clips but no recent footage. That was a conscious choice on the part of co-directors Reijer Zwaan and Ester Gould.

'We realized that whatever she would say, or if she would even appear, even if we wouldn’t want to, the film would shift towards her. Because she’s an attention-grabber. We didn’t want that to happen. It would be so much different,' says Zwaan. 'There wouldn’t be this freedom and there wouldn’t be this space for them to connect with each other, because they would connect to her.'

Instead, Zwaan and Gould focused on recruiting the dancers who brought the underground dance art of vogue to the MTV-watching masses and a provided a groundbreaking example for the gay rights movement.

'We wrote them all carefully written letters in which we explained what we set out to do. That we wanted to make a film about them and their lives and their experiences, and that this wouldn’t be a film about Madonna, but a film about what that special period of time had meant to them but also to a lot of other people. And also because of the AIDS epidemic in the early '90s, it was just a moment in time where it all happened together, and they became such an iconic group of people,' says Zwaan.

Most of the dancers came on board right away, but a few were skeptical of the Dutch filmmakers’ intentions. In the aftermath of 'Madonna: Truth or Dare,' the 1991 black-and-white documentary that followed them on the 'Blond Ambition' tour, several of the dancers sued Madonna over invasion of privacy; others didn’t want to be the subject of a modern gossip flick. But Zwaan and Gould won them over, and always had in mind a film that focused more broadly on contextualizing the men within the times.

For the rest of the article and to buy tickets to the film/events visit: www.freep.com

'Strike a Pose'
7:30 p.m. Sat 01 April., Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
4 p.m. Sun 02 Apr., Emagine Royal Oak.

After the films: On Saturday, Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza talks to the Free Press’ Ashley Woods, and demonstrates voguing. On Sunday, he chats with Free Press style columnist Georgea Kovanis.

Voguing Workshop With Jose Xtravaganza
1 p.m. Sun 02 Apr.
Boll YMCA, 1401 Broadway St., Detroit.
$25.

Says Extravaganza about the workshop: 'Know that there’s no experience necessary. We’re going to find your inner performance artist. Everyone has one. You don’t need a technique because voguing is a feeling. It’s not something where you need to study 12 years of professional ballet or anything. It was created out of emotion and out of movement and out of feeling, and we all have that.'

Fly to see this film!

Fly to see this film! ✈️✈️✈️ I Am Not Your Negro! 🎥 A Masterpiece. Poetic. Brutal.Inspiring! "History is not the...https://t.co/FTdkGjjjHx pic.twitter.com/a7XkDfxRt0

— Madonna (@Madonna) 5 February 2017

Madonna biopic voted best unproduced film script of 2016

A biopic of Madonna, titled Blond Ambition, has been named the most admired unproduced film script currently in the Hollywood system. Written by Elyse Hollander, Blond Ambition has topped the newly published Black List, which invites film executives to vote on their favourite scripts that will not have started shooting before the end of 2016.

Blond Ambition topped the pile of 73 scripts, taking 48 votes; its description is: 'In 1980s New York, Madonna struggles to get her first album released while navigating fame, romance, and a music industry that views women as disposal [sic].' Hollander appears to be a genuine industry newcomer, having written and directed a series of short films and, according to IMDb, acted as an uncredited director’s assistant on Birdman.

Three scripts were in joint second place, taking 35 votes each. Life Itself, from experienced writer Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love; Tangled) is a drama 'that weaves together a number of characters whose lives intersect over the course of decades from the streets of New York to the Spanish countryside and back'. The Olympian, by Tony Tost, is the 'true story of an underdog rower trying to make it into the 1984 Olympics'. The Post, by Liz Hannah, tells the story of the Washington Post and publication of the Pentagon Papers.

The Black List, which has been published annually since 2005, stresses that it is a 'most-liked' list, but it has become increasingly influential over the years, with several recent awards contenders, including Manchester By the Sea, Miss Sloane and The Founder, featuring on past lists.

From The Guardian

Madonna narrates 'honour killing' film

Madonna has announced she is narrating 'Qandeel Baloch: A Very Short Story' a film about a 'honour killing'.

'Proud to narrate my friend #SharmeenObaidChinoy’s latest film about Qandeel Baloch, the Pakistani social media star who was murdered by her brother in an “honor killing.” The Pakistan government finally just passed the #antihonorkilling bill, closing the loophole that allowed killers to walk free! ☮❤🙏 So good to see positive change happen in the world. Too bad Qandeel and so many others had to die first. Today is the. 🙋. #DayoftheGirl Chime for Change #GCFestival. Watch the film here: http://ichime.in/2dsAbZV

Madonna Makes Surprise Appearance at MOMA's Screening of 'Truth or Dare'

Madonna still loves to shock.

The Queen of Pop made a big entry when she showed up for the 25th anniversary screening of Madonna: Truth or Dare at the Museum of Modern Art on Wednesday night (Aug. 24) in New York City.

Some 400 guests were caught off guard when the pop legend, wearing a red off-the-shoulder red dress, turned up unannounced and mingled with fans.

Madonna's revealing Truth or Dare documentary was originally released in 1991 and captured the action and controversy of her worldwide Blond Ambition Tour.

MOMA's special anniversary event included a conversation with the film's director Alek Keshishian, Blonde Ambition Tour choreographer Vincent Paterson, and dancers Jose Gutierez and Salim Gauwloos.

From Billboard.com

Surreal Moment! At the MOMA!! So nice to watch a film in a museum. So many freedoms we...https://t.co/fsLeHhBlFB pic.twitter.com/vcuk7Ea9AF

— Madonna (@Madonna) 25 August 2016

Madonna's love letters to feature in documentary

Madonna's deeply personal letters and recordings she made in bed will be included in a new documentary.

The 'Ray of Light' singer's 18-month romance with Breakfast Club singer Dan Gilroy will be the focus of a new film, and her former lover is said to have turned over 'hours' of video, as well as a huge number of letters and photos to director Guy Guido for inclusion in 'Emmy and The Breakfast Club'.

According to the director, the movie - which will focus on the period of 1979 to 1982 when Madonna was living in an abandoned synagogue in New York with Dan and his brother Ed - will include interviews and re-enactments and feature 'sweet little love notes that she would leave for Dan' and 'very poetic love letters ­expressing her feelings for him and the struggles of their relationship.'

There is also a 20-minute recording of 'silly, romantic bantering' which the couple made in bed and that features Madonna and Dan 'having fun with each other and bedroom talk, and also getting into a little philosophical life discussion.'

The filmmaker insisted using personal material without the 57-year-old singer's consent wasn't a decision taking lightly, but Dan felt it was time to 'share' the 'intimate' footage.

He told the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column: 'There are some intimate things, but at this point they're ready to share. Especially Dan - he's been holding this in a very long time.'

Guy described the couple's relationship, which began in 1979, as the 'meat' of the movie, but said the documentary also explored Madonna's ambition and determination to make it in the music industry.

He is hopeful the film will be complete by January 2017, and that a major distributor will release it.

From contactmusic.com

Vogue on: Madonna's dancers take the limelight

In 1990, Madonna's Blond Ambition tour was one of the most controversial and talked-about events in entertainment history. The tour, which made more than £40m - a record at the time, also made stars out of her seven male backing dancers, who also featured in the 1991 film In Bed With Madonna. Now those dancers have their own documentary - Strike a Pose, directed by Dutch film-makers Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan.

The tour featured Madonna's hit singles Like A Prayer, Express Yourself, Like A Virgin and Vogue, and the singer, wearing her now iconic Jean-Paul Gaultier corset, drew complaints from religious groups for her provocative performances on stage, while shocking the society of 25 years ago by openly discussing HIV, Aids and homosexuality.

The film reunites six of the seven dancers - Carlton Wilborn, Salim Gauwloos, Oliver Crumes III, Luis Camacho, Jose Gutierez and Kevin Stea - while the seventh, Gabriel Trupin, who died of complications due to Aids in 1995, is represented by his mother, Sue Trupin.

Director Zwaan remembers being 11 years old when he saw In Bed With Madonna and said the dancers inspired him 'because they were out and proud - it taught me what was possible'.

'It was 1990, and it was the height of the Aids epidemic, and society was going through a backlash,' he says. 'I felt there was so much prejudice towards gay people - to be homosexual at the time implied you might have HIV or Aids. It was not an easy time to be gay. But there on stage, and then in the film, was Madonna and her dancers, and six of them were gay, and Madonna was discussing those friends she had lost to the disease rather than keeping silent. I just found it very inspiring and helpful.'

Zwaan and his co-director, Gould, tracked down the six men, who still worked in the world of dance and entertainment, and, after persuasion, reunited them for the first time in two decades. It was an experience Crumes III recalls as 'joyful'.

'We are like brothers, we have this bond because of those experiences we shared a quarter of a century ago,' he says. 'This reunion has just brought tears to all of us, and, amazingly, we picked up where we left off.'

'I don't think we realised how much of ourselves were missing until we saw each other again,' Stea adds. 'Really, that tour was a formative time for me in that it gave me permission to explore who I was, explore my sexuality.'

To read the rest of the article visit: www.bbc.co.uk

New film 'Strike a Pose' reveals what happened to Blond Ambition dancers

It's just over 25 years now since Madonna placed an ad anonymously to recruit 'FIERCE male dancers who know the meaning of TROOP STYLE, BEAT BOY and VOGUE....wimps and Wanna-Be's need not apply.'

The seven dancers she chose from open auditions in LA and New York accompanied Madonna during her 1990 Blond Ambition world tour, celebrated in the Truth Or Dare (aka In Bed with Madonna) documentary. They were all in their early twenties. Six were gay. They became celebrities in their own right as they travelled the world with the biggest pop star of the era. The dancers were wildly flamboyant. Most were classically trained.

'They are still very intriguing characters, all of them,' says Reijer Zwaan, whose new documentary about them, Strike a Pose (co-directed with Ester Gould) screens at the Berlin festival. Five of the dancers will be in Berlin for the world premiere. 'To this day, they are great, inspiring and bold characters. These guys, when they were 20, were having the time of their lives. They were travelling the world. They were well known. They were performing in front of 50,000 people.' The dancers and the singers became a very close-knit group. Madonna talked about 'feeling like a mother' toward them.

As a kid growing up in the Netherlands in the early 1990s, Zwaan, now a respected current affairs journalist with Dutch public TV, had been obsessed by Madonna and the dancers. He first saw Truth Or Dare when he was 11 years old.

'At the time, I was just fascinated by the tour, by the concert footage but also by the backstage material - the larger-than-life reality that they were all in. I saw it (the film) many times afterwards for the simple reason that my stepmother had bought the VHS.' What, Zwaan wondered, had happened to all the dancers in the intervening years? He decided to find out.

To read the rest of the article visit: www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music

Madonna looks back on Truth or Dare

It’s one of the best music documentaries ever and offered viewers an unfettered look at one of the world’s biggest celebrities. But what does the film’s subject, Madonna, think about the movie, Truth or Dare, 24 years after its release?

In the new issue of EW, guest editor Andy Cohen sat down with the singer to talk about her upcoming Rebel Heart tour, but the conversation later turned to the classic doc directed by Alek Keshishian, who trailed the singer on her Blond Ambition Tour in the early-’90s. So has the singer revisited it recently?

'I’ve seen bits and pieces from it,' she says. 'I sort of gag when I watch it, cause I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t.’ It’s hard to watch myself do anything. I can’t even stand to watch myself in concert, like my last tour.'

Cohen pressed Madonna about why she won’t tune in for repeat viewings of older performances. 'I just don’t like to watch it,' she says. 'But I think maybe Truth or Dare, I could possibly revisit it right now.'

Cohen praised Madonna’s portrayal in the movie, saying he thought her 'arrogance' was 'brilliant.'

'The shade was thrown!' Madonna told him. 'I’m afraid to watch it. I just think I’m a horrible brat, that’s what I’m afraid of.'

From EW.com

Madonna Movie 'Adé: A Love Story' Finds Its Writer

The Madonna movie Adé: A Love Story has found its writer.

Dianne Houston (Take the Lead) has signed on to adapt Rebecca Walker’s memoir for the big screen, marking Madonna’s next directing project.

The film centers on a 19-year-old American student raised in a Christian and Jewish home who travels to Africa and falls in love with a young Muslim man on an island off the coast of Kenya. Their hastily made plans to marry, however, get blown away by cultural and political forces. Walker, who also hails from a Christian-Jewish home, is the daughter of The Color Purple author Alice Walker.

Bruce Cohen, Jessica Leventhal and Walker are producing. CAA, which reps Madonna, will be taking the project out to financiers in the coming weeks.

Adé marks Madonna’s follow-up to the period romance W.E., which was released by The Weinstein Co. in 2011. The book was published in 2013 by Amazon’s Little A imprint.

Houston, who has an untitled Missy Elliott project in the works, is repped by Kaplan-Stahler Agency.

From The Hollywood Reporter

Madonna to Direct Interracial Romance 'Ade: A Love Story'

Madonna is getting back into the director’s chair.

The performer, who last directed 2011’s stylish period romance W.E., is attached to direct Ade: A Love Story, an adaptation of the debut novel by Rebecca Walker.

Bruce Cohen is producing the indie adaptation via his Bruce Cohen Productions. Jessica Leventhal, the company’s director of development, and Walker also are producing.

Walker, the daughter of The Color Purple author Alice Walker and civil rights lawyer Mel Leventhal, wrote about growing up interracial and with mixed religions in her memoir Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self.

In her debut novel, published October 2013, Walker creates a narrator similar to herself (the mother is Christian while the father is Jewish). The story centers on a 19-year-old American student traveling with a feminist companion in Africa who falls in love with a young Muslim man on an island off the coast of Kenya. Their hastily made plans to marry, however, get blown away by cultural and political forces.

Although very much a love story, many of the themes and subjects in Ade are those Madonna has touched upon in envelope-pushing ways at the height of her music career. Sex, religion, race, lesbianism all figure into the story one way or another. Already a fan of the book, Madonna also provided a blurb that appeared in promotional materials.

CAA is arranging financing. Madonna and the producers on the hunt for a screenwriter to adapt the book.

Cohen was a producer on Silver Linings Playbook and is working on adapting the graphic novel The Fifth Beatle.

From hollywoodreporter.com

Madonna Options 'The Impossible Lives Of Greta Wells'?

Madonna's film efforts haven't received the highest praise in the past, but the 54-year-old queen of pop may try her hand at directing once again with an adaptation of the recently released novel 'The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells.'
Andrew Sean Greer, author of 'Greta Wells,' told SF Weekly that Madonna called him personally to discuss obtaining the rights for a movie. It's unclear whether the singer will simply produce, as Greer speculated, or take on a larger role with the project.
'Greta Wells' depicts a woman living in New York's Greenwich Village in 1985 when her gay twin brother dies of an unnamed disease that mirrors AIDS. The shock treatments she receives as therapy allow her to travel back in time to 1918 and 1941, where she encounters old acquaintances and finds much-needed self-discovery. Greer's book has received positive reception from critics, with The New York Times calling it a 'generous novel' that's 'as precisely engineered as a Swiss watch.'
'I got a phone call last week....I think it’s fine,' Greer reportedly told Litseen. 'No one’s asked me about this....From a celebrity who read the book and loved it so much she called me up personally to talk to me about it. I thought it was going to be one of her assistants who was like, loved your book, she’s interested. Right. She didn’t read it. But oh no, no, no. She called me. She read it. She totally got it. There were a couple other people interested and they sort of all made a deal together, and she’s optioned the rights to it. We’ll see what happens. But it’s fun because it was Madonna.'
If she were to direct, the movie would mark Madonna's third feature behind the camera, following 2008's 'Filth and Wisdom' and 2011's 'W.E.' Both efforts received largely negative reviews, but Madonna has never been one to shy away at the behest of critics.

From www.huffingtonpost.com

Andrea Riseborough: Madonna is 'wonderful' director

Madonna has 'wonderful instinct' as a director.
Andrea Riseborough - who played Wallis Simpson in the singer's first full length motion picture, romantic drama 'W.E.' - praised her directorial efforts, insisting that the 'Girl Gone Wild' star is as comfortable behind the lens as she is in the recording studio.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz, she explained: 'She was 100% professional. Working with her was a very natural rhythm for me in the sense that she wanted to always capture a moment at its best. Whichever moment we were dealing with emotionally, she always thought to express it in an interesting and truthful way.'
'She has wonderful instinct and that's valuable. And she has an extraordinary eye.'
The 31-year-old actress admitted she was in awe of Madonna's dedication to the project, which depicts the love story between King Edward VII, who abdicated the throne in order to be with American divorcee Wallis.
She said: 'She worked on the project for 10 years and it was such a passion project for her. Really, I think everything is a passion project for her because she is very dedicated about what she does and so enthusiastic about it.'

From Digital Spy

Andrea Riseborough: Madonna lets her femininity drive her

The actress was directed by the pop superstar in last year's W.E., which divided critics on its release.
'She had been working on that story for ten years and it was very close to her heart,' Riseborough told Metro.
'The first time I met her she asked me for tea because she's very fond of an English cuppa.'
Riseborough continued: 'I really respect how she allows her femininity to drive her. And I think that's not something we are really encouraged to do. 'P*ssy' for example - why is that an insult?'
'Or, 'Don't be a girl!' If you used those same insults in a racial context, it would never be allowed.'

From www.digitalspy.co.uk

Penny Marshall Brought Madonna And Rosie Together As Pals

Director Penny Marshall teamed Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell up on the set of baseball movie A League Of Their Own because she thought the pop star could help keep the actress trim and in shape.
Madonna and O'Donnell became best friends while making the 1992 film and they have their director to thank - because Marshall figured Ro and Mo, as she called them, would be a good influence on each other.
The filmmaker recalls, 'I said, 'Mo, you keep food out of Rosie's mouth and Rosie, you teach her how to play ball'.'
Marshall also told Madonna to relax her work-out regime on set - because she was too ripped.
She adds, 'She was in great shape and she came with a trainer and I said, 'You've gotta stop; your arms shouldn't be this cut in 1943... They (women) didn't work out that much.'

From contactmusic.com

Evita 15th Anniversary Blu-ray Edition

A Blu-ray edition of Evita is being released to celebrate the films 15th anniversary, the disc goes on sale on Tuesday 19 June in the US - see www.amazon.com

Thanks to Polo

'W.E.' UK DVD Details

madonnalicious has taken a sneak peek at a preview disc of the UK version DVD of Madonna's 'W.E.' and shows some screen captures from the disc menus below.

Included in the extras are:

- The Making of W.E (approximately 18 minutes long)
- UK Premiere Red Carpet Featurette (5 minutes long)
- Interview with Andrea Riseborough and James D’Arcy (approximately 18 minutes)
- Image Gallery
- Trailer and TV Spots

The DVD/Blu-ray is released in the UK on Monday 04 June.

'W.E.' Posters in Amsterdam

madonnalicious spotted these posters for 'W.E.' on Prins Hendrikkade outside the Grand Hotel Amrath - the display features three posters so you can view it from whatever side of the street you are on!

'W.E.' in Denmark

The small local cinema 'Snurretopppen' in Store Heddinge, Denmark, is showing Madonna's 'W.E.' (renamed in Denmark as 'Wallis & Edward') on Sunday 06 May and Friday 11 May at 7:30pm.

For more information including location and price visit www.snurretoppen.net

Thanks to Henrik

'W.E.' Posters in Paris

madonnalicious reader Olivier has spotted 'W.E.' posters all over the French Paris subway and tram system; the picture below is taken at a tramway stop.

Susan Seidelman praises Madonna's work on 'W.E.'

The woman who directed Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan has heaped praise on the pop star for her directorial debut W.E..
Susan Seidelman, who cast Madonna in her third film, admits she was pleasantly surprised by the period film and thought her one-time leading lady did 'a really good job'.
The moviemaker tells BlogTalkRadio.com, 'I saw W.E. on DVD and I thought she did a really good job. I didn't know whether I would like it or not. I was pleasantly surprised.'
'I don't think she learned anything from me but she's certainly been married to directors and she's been working with good directors so I'm sure she's learned a lot over the last 30 or so years. She's somebody who's always taking on new challenges so it doesn't surprise me at all that she's directing.'
'What I saw working with her on Desperately Seeking Susan was that she was really determined, very focused on whatever her goal was and was incredibly self-disciplined so it doesn't surprise me that she would take on all kinds of career challenges.'
'At that time you never knew when someone would be a drop in the bucket or when they would last, so the longevity of her career, I certainly couldn't have anticipated. But her determination and her smartness and her discipline was striking.'

From Daily Star

W.E. Posters in Taiwan

Here are some pictures of posters for W.E. on display in Taipei, Taiwan.

Thanks to An

'W.E.' DVD and Blu-ray cover change for UK

The cover of the DVD/Blu-ray of Madonna's W.E. has changed (the previous one of Wallis and Edward kissing on the beach had Edward's cigarette airbrushed out).

The DVD and Blu-ray are still due for release in the UK on Monday 04 June.

W.E. Release in Taiwan

Madonna's W.E. will be released in Taiwan on Friday 09 March as this poster shows.