Casting Competition is Fierce for Madonna Biopic

The hottest contest in Hollywood right now might be the one behind the scenes as hopefuls vie to play Madonna in the movie of her life, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Tinseltown news source notes that interest is high among actors looking to land the role, and would-be leading ladies for the project have come from all quarters – "from Emmy winners and Oscar nominees to singers turned actresses."

Among those said to be in top contention is Florence Pugh, who starred in last year's "Black Widow," noted Comic Book.

"Since the list of potential Madonnas was released, many people have taken to Twitter to back Pugh as the choice, but the former Academy Award-nominated actor has some competition," the site went on to note, saying that the "finalists also include Julia Garner ('Ozark'), Alexa Demie ('Euphoria'), Odessa Young ('Mothering Sunday'), and Emma Laird ('Mayor of Kingstown')."

Those in contention may find themselves in "what can be best described as a Madonna Bootcamp," a "grueling" process that includes "choreography sessions with Madonna's choreographer, after which there are choreography sessions with Madonna, herself," THR said. Work days are long – up to eleven hours long, it's reported.

And remember, this is just for the casting of the role. Whoever wins the plum part will "still [be] looking at months' worth of intense training ahead of a potential start date" for filming, THR said.

"You have to be able to do everything," a source told the publication, because the biopic "will require dancing and singing sequences."

And the star will have a particularly demanding taskmaster in the form of the movie's director – Madonna.

"Musical biopics often have their subjects – or subjects' relatives or estates – involved, in order to retain the requisite rights," THR said, citing Elton John's role as executive producer for his biopic, "Rocket Man."

But directing the project isn't the only way in which the "Vogue" singer is involved; she's also co-writing the screenplay.

Madge explained her hands-on approach, recalling what she said on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" last fall: "The reason I'm doing it is because a bunch of people have tried to write movies about me, but they're always men."

In 2017, UK newspaper The Guardian noted, Madonna took aim at a proposed film about her life and career, blasting it with an Instagram post that said the script was "all lies."

"Nobody knows what I know and what I have seen," the star declared. "Only I can tell my story. Anyone else who tries is a charlatan and a fool."