Madonna is set to make her return to acting after 23 years, appearing in the second season of Seth Rogen's Apple TV series 'The Studio'. The pop icon was photographed filming in Venice, Italy, for a two-episode arc that draws on her real-life experience of a shelved biopic about her own life.
In 2021, Universal Pictures won a bidding war for the biopic, with Madonna set to co-write and direct. Julia Garner, known for 'Ozark' and 'Inventing Anna', was cast as the lead after a gruelling audition process. The film was scrapped in 2023 when Madonna's manager convinced her to focus on a world tour instead.
'The Studio' will reimagine the project as a fictional film produced by Rogen's Continental Studios. The storyline follows the team as they take the biopic to the Venice Film Festival, with Madonna and Garner appearing as themselves to generate Oscar buzz. Sources confirm Madonna will not play the director in the series.
The appearance marks Madonna's first on-screen role since a cameo on 'Will & Grace' in 2003 and her last film role in 2002's 'Swept Away'. Netflix is now developing an autobiographical series about Madonna, though Garner is not attached to that project.
Filming in Venice included a homage to Madonna's 1984 'Like a Virgin' music video, with Garner and the singer gliding in a gondola. The second season of 'The Studio' is expected to air later this year.
