What can we expect from the “next chapter” of Madonna?
Innovation is a funny thing. Often heralded in retrospect as opposed to in real time, for the ripple of influence can only be seen with a much wider lens.
The artistic moves that innovate are often viewed with cynicism in the moment, proving that the mould is very much a hard thing to break. Whether you like her music or not, you can’t deny that not many did it as well as Madonna.
Her chart-topping career has spanned nearly half a century, and the very idea that she was a 1980s icon is still something I find hard to fathom. Because when I was a kid, making my way through the cultural zeitgeist of the early 2000s, her name was still on the tip of every tongue.
Through it all, she received criticism, and not just from critics and traditionalist fans but artists, too. She was in many ways the first modern popstar, buoyed by the commercial power of music videos and digital advertising, and so had to innovate in an entirely new field of cross-platform artistry.
Perhaps the most scathing example was Joni Mitchell, who said, “Music has become burlesque over the last few years—video’s done that,” adding, “She’s got that whore-Madonna thing built-in [laughs]. She’s like a living Barbie doll, but a little bit on the blue side. There’s always been that type of female. There’s always been a market for it, but the danger is that she thinks she’s a role model. And it’s a terrible role model. It’s death to all things real.”
Offensive or as baseless as people may think it was, the fruits of her influence are now there for all to see. The way in which modern pop stars present themselves on the multitude of digital platforms is largely informed by Madonna and the way she navigated and continues to navigate the swiftly changing tides of digital media.
So she’s always on the verge, waiting for the next trend to subtly reveal itself so she can adapt and be at the forefront when it does. But now, in 2025, it feels as though the idea of content is moving quickly as ever, and the opportunities for innovation are fleeting, because, quite simply, all bases are covered.
None more so than the trusty biopic. Rolled out annually in order to give legacy musicians one last exposed swansong, it’s become a matter of when, not if, the big names will receive their name on the next majorly funded screenplay. Of course, Madonna was a natural candidate, but she wanted creative control over the process and, in fact, penned the screenplay herself.
So, when can we see Madonna’s biopic?
Well, don’t hold your breath, because despite her dwindling contribution to modern culture, Madonna is elusive as ever. Most likely noticing the growing popularity of biopics, Madonna’s plans to tell her story on the big screen were scrapped. The script has instead been pivoted to a much more popular format, the limited TV series.
Alongside that, she is currently working on her next album, which will possibly run alongside the release of her series in what would be another chapter in her move to become the ultimate cross-platform artist. The album is rumoured to be titled Confessions 2, making it most likely the sequel to her Grammy-winning full-length Confessions on a Dance Floor.
