Madonna's long-awaited acting return appears to be bringing more laughs than expected. Actor Chase Sui Wonders has praised the music legend's guest appearance in the second season of Apple TV+'s The Studio, describing the pop icon as unexpectedly hilarious and fully committed to the role.
In a recent conversation with Entertainment Tonight, Wonders opened up about filming with Madonna and Julia Garner in Venice earlier this year. Calling the experience surreal, she said the singer arrived on set with infectious enthusiasm and impressed the cast with both her humour and work ethic.
"It was better than you ever could have possibly imagined," Wonders said, adding, "Madonna is the coolest... she's also funny as hell and such a hard worker." She also had high praise for Garner, calling her "an absolute star."
The upcoming season reportedly pokes fun at Madonna's long-discussed biopic, which was shelved by Universal Pictures in 2023 despite being in active development for several years. The new episodes feature Madonna appearing alongside Garner, who was originally cast to portray the singer in the abandoned project.
The cast filmed portions of the new season in Venice in March, with series creator Seth Rogen spotted on location alongside Madonna, Garner, Michael Keaton and Donald Glover. Returning cast members Bryan Cranston, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz and Wonders were also part of the shoot.
Adding another layer to the meta humour, Madonna and Garner were seen recreating the singer's iconic image by lip-syncing to her 1984 hit 'Like a Virgin' while travelling through Venice's canals during filming.
The real-life biopic, which Madonna had planned to direct herself, was eventually scrapped after budget-related disagreements with Universal. Reflecting on the project's collapse in a recent interview, the singer suggested the scale of her life story demanded a larger production. "I've had an extraordinary life... so I needed a big budget," she said.
Season 2 of The Studio is expected to continue its satirical take on Hollywood while blending real-life industry figures with fictional storylines, with Madonna's self-referential cameo shaping up to be one of its most anticipated highlights.