Madonna Revives Legendary 'Like a Virgin' Moment with Future Biopic Star in Venice
The Queen of Pop, Madonna, has brought back one of her most iconic career moments by recreating the famous gondola scene from her 1984 smash hit Like a Virgin. She performed the nostalgic recreation alongside the star of her upcoming biographical film, actress Julia Garner. The 67-year-old music legend has been filming in Venice with the 32-year-old Ozark actress over the past week for the second season of the television series The Studio.
Coordinated Fashion and Social Media Reveal
While shooting scenes on the city's iconic gondolas, the pair took a brief moment to lip-sync to the classic track, capturing the recreation on camera. Madonna shared a clip of this special moment on her Instagram account on Monday, showcasing their coordinated outfits. Both women wore black-and-white striped tops, paired with stylish black coats and blue jeans for the shoot. The pop icon captioned her post with the playful phrase: 'Like A Virgin……again and again.'
Nostalgic Nod to a Groundbreaking Music Video
The original music video for the global hit, directed by Mary Lambert, was partly filmed in Venice, making this recreation a heartfelt nod to Madonna's early career and artistic roots. The song famously topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for an impressive six consecutive weeks, while the accompanying album went on to sell more than 10 million copies in the United States alone and over 21 million copies worldwide.
Madonna's Return to Screen Acting
Madonna's role in the upcoming instalment of The Studio marks her significant return to screen acting after nearly two decades away from major roles. Her last notable acting credit was a voice part in the 2006 animated feature Arthur and the Invisibles, directed by French filmmaker Luc Besson. She previously won a Golden Globe award for her starring role in the 1995 movie musical Evita. According to her IMDb page, her last live-action acting job was a cameo appearance in a 2003 episode of the popular sitcom Will & Grace.
The Studio Series and Cast Details
The television series The Studio is co-created by and stars Seth Rogen as a stressed-out studio executive, with a supporting cast that includes Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Kathryn Hahn. Among the stars of the series was beloved comedy icon Catherine O'Hara, who sadly passed away at age 71 in January after a battle with rectal cancer.
Teasing the Upcoming Project
Madonna teased her involvement in the upcoming project last week with an Instagram Stories photo of herself leafing through a script while seated on a gondola. She captioned that image: 'The Italian Job.' The pop superstar originally reached simultaneous cinema and music stardom in the 1980s while starring opposite Rosanna Arquette in the comedy film Desperately Seeking Susan.
Reflections on Madonna's Rise to Fame
In a Guardian interview last year, Rosanna Arquette recalled that the Michigan native 'exploded' into worldwide fame as a singer 'as we were making' the film in 1985. Arquette stated: 'It was pretty intense and overwhelming for her, but she handled it great. She wasn’t a global superstar yet. She became one while we were doing that. She had hits, but then I remember looking at her on the cover of Rolling Stone on set and thinking: “Wow!”'
Julia Garner's Role in the Madonna Biopic
Julia Garner will soon be portraying Madonna in a long-awaited biopic about the star's life and career. She confirmed last September that the project is still actively in development, following a series of production delays. Garner told W Magazine at the time: 'I can't say too much about it, but yes, it's a work in progress.'
Madonna's Persistent Efforts for Her Biopic
Madonna has been persistent in her years-long effort to make a comprehensive movie about her extraordinary life. In 2023, she worked on a biopic tentatively titled Who's That Girl, a clever nod to her 1987 film and song of the same name. The film was initially developed with Diablo Cody on board as co-writer of the screenplay, which was then-titled Little Sparrow. However, the hitmaker pivoted her focus to concentrate fully on her massive international Celebration tour.
Recent Developments and Creative Challenges
In 2024, Madonna penned most of the film's script with screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson and eyed Julia Garner to portray her on screen. That November, she used social media to express her frustration over various roadblocks in her pursuit to bring her film to life. She wrote on Instagram: 'After struggling for days in LA, listening to producers and agents tell me why I couldn’t make my film, I realized that everything in my life is going to be challenged.'
The renowned performer noted she had 'been working on it for 4 years,' with people insisting that she should 'downsize, down scale, think smaller.' Her lengthy caption continued: 'No easy rides for me. I guess I should be grateful.. It forces me to think outside the box. I did not have a normal life. I cannot make this in the normal way.' This determination underscores Madonna's unwavering commitment to telling her story authentically and on her own creative terms.
