Madonna to Make Movie Musical About Socialite Simpson

Pop icon Madonna is prepping to direct a movie musical based on the life of Wallis Simpson, the American socialite who took Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, as her third husband. The pop icon is pursuing Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and British star David Tennant (TV’s Dr. Who) for the leading roles, according to The Sun.

In 1934, while Simpson was married to her second husband, she caught the eye of Edward, the Prince of Wales, and the two allegedly began an affair. Two years later, after Edward had been named King Edward VIII of England, Simpson filed for a divorce from her husband and accepted Edward’s proposal for marriage. News of the engagement sparked outrage in the UK, as the twice-married Simpson was seen as an inappropriate choice for the King. Edward ultimately left his throne in 1936 to marry Simpson the following year. They remained together until his death in 1972.

A source told The Sun: "The final script is now written and the locations have been scouted. Madonna is now trying to assemble the cast and put the finances in place. The first scene of the film is an old woman in her nineties living on her own in a Parisian flat. She starts to tell her life story to her housekeeper. It turns out the old woman is Wallis Simpson. There will be a song for each decade of her life."

Madonna made her directorial debut with the poorly-received 2008 film Filth and Wisdom, which she also wrote. Her career as an actress hit a high point with her Golden Globe-winning turn as Eva Peron in the 1996 movie musical Evita.