Did Oscar-Winning Writer Diablo Cody Quit Madonna's Upcoming Biopic?

Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody quit working on Madonna's upcoming biopic that the pop star is also directing, according to the U.K. tabloid The Sun. But a source told Entertainment Weekly that's not the case.

On Thursday, the publication reported Cody allegedly quit the project after clashing with Madonna.

"Madonna and Diablo spent weeks working on the screenplay and made good progress," a source told the newspaper. "But Madonna is understandably very particular about how she wants it to be. She's a perfectionist and because it is about her life, she is being very careful about how things come across.

"Diablo needed more freedom to be able to make it work and ultimately decided she couldn't contribute any more," the source added. "Universal Pictures knows it could be a massive earner for them, especially after the success of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'Rocketman,' so are searching for a new writer. But Madonna doesn't need the money and isn't going to let a movie get made which she doesn't feel is authentic to her experiences."

Despite the claims, EW reports Cody and Madonna delivered a final draft of the script that the duo worked on during 2020. "A studio source at Universal, where the film is gestating, tells EW that reports of the Oscar-winning Juno screenwriter's 'departure' from the movie have been exaggerated, and that Cody simply completed her work and moved on to her next project," the publication writes.

"It's unclear whether additional work will be done on the version the women turned in, as big-budget productions normally go through rewrites, treatments, and polishing before shooting begins," EW adds.

Neither women's representatives responded to EW for a comment.

Back in September, it was confirmed Madonna would be directing the biopic about her life.

"The focus of this film will always be music," said Madonna in a statement at the time. "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 film will be produced by Amy Pascal, the former Sony Pictures head who produced "A League of their Own," the 1992 film co-starring Madonna.

"This movie is an absolute labor of love for me," said Pascal. "I have known Madonna since we made 'A League of Their Own' together, and I can't imagine anything more thrilling than collaborating with her and Diablo on bringing her true-life story to the big screen with Donna (Langley) and our partners at Universal."