Madonna is proving her versatility as an artist, not just a music performer, as she pushes forward with directing a new royal biopic. The pop star arrived in Venice this week to celebrate the city’s 6th annual Venice Film Festival.
The biopic, entitled ‘W.E.,’ is said to portray the relationship between King Edwards VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Simpson is said to be portrayed by British actress Andrea Riseborough.
The Venice Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday, September 1 with George Clooney’s ‘The Ides of March,’ and will continue to run through September 10. Roman Polanski’s latest film, ‘Carnage,’ is also set to premiere at the festival.
Polanski will not be attending the festival due to an outstanding warrant for stemming from statutory rape charges in 1977. The 78-year-old director was convicted of raping 13-year-old girl during a photo shoot, as well as five other related charges. When Polanski learned that a judge was considering deportation, Polanski fled the country. He would later pursue a relationship with an actress who was 15 to 17 years of age at the time.
Polanski would risk extradition if he traveled.
Madonna has directed commercials for H&M to promote her clothing line, as well as the film ‘Fifth & Wisdom.’
