Marilyn Monroe would’ve been 100 years old this summer, and she’s still inspiring big-screen projects.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is heading to the Venice Film Festival this September where she will serve as jury president and debut a 17-minute short film called Flesh Impact starring both Dakota Johnson and Ellen Burstyn as versions of the iconic Hollywood star.
The milestone birthday is no coincidence as the project was created to honor the moment and was done “with the blessings” of Monroe estate holders Authentic Brands Group. Described in official press materials as “a love letter to one of cinema’s most enduring icons,” Flesh Impact casts Johnson as Monroe at the height of her fame while Burstyn stars as an imagined version of Monroe later in life. (Monroe was 36 when she died on Aug. 4, 1962.) Peter Sarsgaard and The Pitt star Sepideh Moafi round out the cast.
The film is produced by William Green for The Cut, Michelle Ross for Superprime, Nicolette Spencer and Melissa Moore for INNOCEAN, and is presented by automotive brand Genesis. Maddi Carlton, Brandon Boerner, Rebecca Skinner, David Webb and Courtney Kivowitz serve as executive producers.
Johnson in Flesh Impact
Photo credit: Genesis
Burstyn in Flesh Impact
Photo credit: Genesis
“I’ve always been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe. So, when Genesis first came to me with the idea of a celebratory project for her centennial, I knew I wanted to work together on bringing this story to life,” Gyllenhaal said in a statement. “With Flesh Impact, we showcase the timeless icon we know and love through a modern lens that reclaims her story.”
Gyllenhaal’s creative team also included production designer Karen Murphy (Elvis), casting director Mary Vernieu (The Last of Us), costume designer Jennifer Johnson (Bugonia), editor Affonso Gonçalves (Hamnet) and director of photography Lawrence Sher (The Bride).
“At Genesis, we believe the arts have a unique ability to inspire reflection, spark meaningful conversation, and connect people through stories that endure across generations,” said Amy Marentic, chief marketing officer at Genesis Motor America. “Our support of this film honoring Marilyn Monroe reflects our commitment to celebrating cultural icons whose influence extends far beyond their time.”
The full Venice Film Festival lineup can be found here. Burstyn has other official business at the festival: She stars in Kornel Mundruczo’s out of competition title Place to Be and has been plucked to receive a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement.
The first look at Flesh Impact was first reported by Vanity Fair. “This film is very much a mixture of Marilyn and my fantasy of her,” Gyllenhaal told the magazine’s Rebecca Ford. “In a lot of ways, this movie is about Marilyn and also about actresses in general and what it’s like to have that strange, very vulnerable, and, at the same time, very powerful job.”
