She may still be alive and kicking but the ultimate Lucky Star Madonna is all set to get her very own biopic after Universal has picked up Elyse Hollander’s script which takes the title from the megastar’s 1990 world tour Blond Ambition.
The story, which is to be set in early 80’s New York, will see Madonna Louise Ciccone working on her first album, struggling in a business that treats women badly, while also dealing with a burgeoning love life and the first hints of fame.
Only last year, Hollander’s script topped the 2016 Black List, the industry ranking that tracks Hollywood’s most-liked unproduced screenplays so it was only a matter of sitting back and waiting for the right (or best) offer to land in her hands and it couldn’t much bigger than Universal. Considering this is Hollander’s debut script after working alongside Alejandro G. Inarritu as an assistant as he made Michael Keaton’s Birdman, this could be the big break she has been waiting for to finally make her mark.
Madonna, since she broke through back in the 80’s, has had a pretty controversial life in the limelight. From the many love affairs, with men and women, to her extreme openness concerning sex causing major upsets with those in power and even as far as upsetting the Vatican itself when she decided to stage a mock crucifixion when she performed a stone’s throw away from Vatican City. This wasn’t even the first time she went up against Catholic leaders.
Fifty Shades of Grey producer Michael De Luca is attached with Brett Ratner’s RatPac Entertainment. John Zaozirny of Bellevue Productions also will produce. Universal executive vp production Erik Baiers and director of development Chloe Yellin will oversee production for the studio. Lucy Kitada will help oversee for De Luca Productions.