Diablo Cody on Madonna Biopic: 'Can't Believe I Got to Spend a Summer Hanging Out with' Her (Exclusive)

Diablo Cody had more than one pinch-me moment working with Madonna.

Back in 2020, Madonna confirmed that she was working on co-writing a movie about her life with Cody, the Oscar- and Tony-winning writer behind Juno and Jennifer's Body. After Ozark star Julia Garner was attached to play the pop singer in the film, it was reported in January 2023 that the project was put on an indefinite hold.

Cody, 45, tells PEOPLE she "can't talk about" the script, and she doesn't know much about where it currently stands in the development process.

"I don't. And I feel bad because people keep asking me. They're like, 'Is it going to come out?' And I'm like, 'I don't know, but I want it to,' " says Cody.

Still, the writer is thrilled to have spent time intimately working with Madonna, 65.

"I'm obsessed with Madonna," she says. "I remain Madonna's No. 1 fan, and I still can't believe I got to spend a summer hanging out with Madonna. Who gets to do that? And especially an '80s baby, are you kidding me?"

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Did anything surprise Cody about the "Crazy for You" singer? She says no: "That's the thing, because Madonna, unlike a lot of celebrities where you see behind the mask and you're like, 'Oh, okay. They're just whatever.' Madonna is Madonna. She's a superstar. You want to talk about superhumans? That's one."

Back in 2020 when the biopic was first announced, Madonna said in a statement, "I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer — a human being, trying to make her way in this world. The focus of this film will always be music. 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," she added at the time.

"It's essential to share the roller coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision," she added at the time.

With the new teen comedy Lisa Frankenstein, Cody blasts back to 1989 for the setting, complete with costumes and props from the era — some of which she'd like to see have a comeback.

"I was definitely able to pull from my teen years and my '80s childhood," she tells PEOPLE. "I vividly remember the hair, the colors, the vibe, the music. I have an emotional connection to that time."

Cody teases that there is "some rare '80s aesthetics in this movie," adding, "The '80s were great. Everything was bigger. It was just a really ridiculous, outsized, exaggerated time that I remember well."

"Here's what needs to come back: If you watch movies from the '80s, there are so many gorgeous bombshell women with big curly hair. It's like, where has this gone? I feel like everybody is keratin-straightened now. I want to see some big, curly, early-Nicole-Kidman-type hair back in the zeitgeist."

Lisa Frankenstein is in theaters Friday.