Madonna Teams with Netflix and Shawn Levy for New Limited Series Chronicling Her Iconic Life and Career
Madonna is taking the reins of her own story once again—this time on the small screen. In a major development, Netflix is in the early stages of creating a limited series about the life, music, and groundbreaking legacy of the Queen of Pop. Madonna herself will executive produce the project alongside Shawn Levy, the prolific filmmaker behind “Stranger Things” and “All the Light We Cannot See”, whose production company 21 Laps holds an exclusive overall TV deal with the streamer.
Madonna: Scrapped Movie Turns To Television
While Netflix has declined to comment officially, sources confirm that the series is not connected to the previously planned biopic at Universal Pictures, which had been in development for years before being scrapped in early 2023. That film had cast three-time Emmy winner Julia Garner (“Ozark”, “Inventing Anna”) as Madonna after an intense audition process that included singing and dance bootcamps. Garner, who recently appeared alongside Madonna on stage during the Celebration Tour in December 2023, remains closely associated with the project and is reportedly still the frontrunner to play the singer, pending scheduling and final negotiations.
This shift from film to series marks a new chapter in Madonna’s mission to tell her story on her own terms. The artist has been deeply involved in shaping the narrative of her life onscreen. She previously co-wrote drafts of the feature script with Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno”) and Cressida Wilson (“Secretary”, “The Girl on the Train”). However, with the new Netflix limited series, the creative direction is being reimagined entirely from scratch.
Maodnna’s Involvement In Her Story
Whether Madonna will take part in writing the series remains undecided, but her hands-on approach to storytelling is expected to continue. Her intent is clear: to portray her journey with the honesty, complexity, and spirit that has defined her decades-long career.
“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 said in 2020 when she first announced her plans to tell her life story onscreen.
Born in Bay City, Michigan, Madonna Louise Ciccone left college and moved to New York City with just $35 in her pocket and a dream of becoming a dancer. What followed was a meteoric rise to stardom. Over the years, she has shattered records and boundaries alike: with more than 400 million records sold worldwide, she holds the title of the best-selling female music artist in history. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
Madonna: One Of The Best Selling Music Artists Of All Time
Beyond the music, Madonna has reshaped pop culture, fashion, and the global conversation around gender, sexuality, and artistic freedom. A fearless provocateur, her career has been defined by an unapologetic embrace of reinvention and social defiance. From “Like a Virgin” to “Vogue” to “Frozen,” she has consistently used her platform to challenge societal norms and champion the LGBTQ+ community, women’s rights, and freedom of expression.
The timing of this new Netflix project follows the conclusion of Madonna’s Celebration Tour, which spanned from October 2023 to May 2024 and marked a triumphant return to the stage for the artist. After the tour, speculation resumed that Madonna was reconsidering her biopic plans—rumors she confirmed subtly through social media posts. Now, her collaboration with Netflix and Levy signals a clear move toward a serialized format that offers more room to explore the intricacies of her life and art.
Details about the narrative scope of the series are still under wraps. It remains uncertain whether the show will chronicle Madonna’s entire life story or focus on a particular era of her decades-long career. No writer has been attached as of yet.
What is certain, however, is that the partnership between Madonna, Shawn Levy, and Netflix brings together formidable storytelling forces. Levy’s 21 Laps has a proven track record of creating compelling, high-profile content for the platform, and his creative vision could provide the cinematic and emotional scope worthy of Madonna’s life story.
For fans and pop culture historians alike, the upcoming series promises not only a rare glimpse into the personal evolution of a once-in-a-generation artist but also a celebration of her lasting influence on music, identity, and rebellion. Deadline first reported the news.
