Madonna once expressed an interest in producing the critically-acclaimed new movie Precious, author Sapphire has revealed. Sapphire claims the Queen of Pop was eager to be associated with the film adapted from 1996 novel Push, the story of an illiterate, obese girl battling abuse and teen pregnancy in 1987 Harlem.

Madonna was among the first people to show an interest in adapting author Sapphire’s gritty drama into a film.

“There was this really earnest college student with his backpack on who wanted to do his first film, and then Madonna wanted to produce it,” the writer reveals in this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly.

“I was like, ‘Madonna? I don’t think this is her film,’” she added. “I remember this one producer told me that he had found Precious—and it was going to be Brandy,” a shocked Sapphire said. “Excuse me? I literally almost hung up on him.”

The post finally went to moviemaker Lee Daniels who managed to convince her with his credentials. Precious opens in theaters everywhere this Friday.