Dakota Johnson has undergone a striking transformation to portray Marilyn Monroe in the first images released from Maggie Gyllenhaal's upcoming short film, "Flesh Impact." The film, which will debut at the Venice Film Festival in September, also features veteran actress Ellen Burstyn as an imagined version of Monroe.
Vanity Fair unveiled the first look at Johnson, 36, as Monroe "at the height of her fame," complete with a blonde wig and the iconic mole. Burstyn, 93, appears as a version of Monroe "the world never had a chance to see."
Gyllenhaal, who directed and wrote the script for "Flesh Impact," told Vanity Fair that she initially had reservations about casting Johnson due to their differing appearances but ultimately embraced the artistic interpretation. "I don’t know that anyone even really totally knows what Marilyn looks like because she’s been so commodified and made into this myth and she’s very blurry in my mind," Gyllenhaal explained.
Burstyn reportedly agreed to join the project without hesitation, with Gyllenhaal noting that the role resonated with her at a particular time. The ensemble cast also includes Gyllenhaal's husband, Peter Sarsgaard, and actress Sepideh Moafi.
The 17-minute short film is described as a blend of Monroe and Gyllenhaal's personal vision of the star. The Venice Film Festival's logline indicates the story follows an elderly woman auditioning for a play and revealing secrets about her identity and the public's perception of her life.
"Flesh Impact" will premiere in September to coincide with what would have been Monroe's 100th birthday. Monroe died in August 1962 at age 36 from an accidental barbiturates overdose, a death ruled a "probable suicide."