Julia Garner, who starred in "Inventing Anna," has been given the role of Madonna in an upcoming biopic on the pop queen, according to sources close with the project. According to one insider, Garner has emerged as the favourite among over a dozen hopefuls, and has been rumoured as a frontrunner for the job for months — a performance Madonna would direct herself. According to another source, Garner's team is considering the offer and is anticipated to accept it. The film will explore the early days of the often-controversial artist and queen of endless reinvention, and will be produced by Universal Pictures. In a multi-studio bidding war, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group head Donna Langley won the script, and Amy Pascal is involved as a producer. The production schedule and the rest of the main cast are still unknown. Florence Pugh, Alexa Demie, and Odessa Young are among the actors competing for the part, as previously reported. Bebe Rexha and Sky Ferreira have also been suggested as possible candidates. The audition process was said to be difficult because the musical production requires a talented singer and dancer. Madonna said she wished 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. The focus of this film will always be music. Music has kept me going and art has kept me alive. There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me. It’s essential to share the roller coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision ." "The ultimate icon, humanitarian, artist and rebel," Langley said of Madonna.