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Gyllenhaal’s Short 'Flesh Impact' Casts Dakota Johnson and Ellen Burstyn as Marilyn Monroe

The Genesis-backed short has the Monroe estate's approval with a Venice Film Festival world premiere.

Overview

  • Genesis and Maggie Gyllenhaal published first-look images and press materials showing Dakota Johnson as Monroe at the height of her fame and Ellen Burstyn as an imagined older Monroe.
  • The 17-minute short was produced with the blessings of Authentic Brands Group and is presented by Genesis with production partners including The Cut, Superprime and INNOCEAN.
  • Supporting cast and key collaborators include Peter Sarsgaard, Sepideh Moafi, production designer Karen Murphy, cinematographer Lawrence Sher and editor Affonso Gonçalves.
  • Venice will host the film’s world premiere in September and will also honor Ellen Burstyn with a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement, raising the project’s festival visibility.
  • Gyllenhaal calls the piece a 'love letter' that reimagines and reclaims Monroe’s legacy rather than serving as a conventional biopic, a choice that highlights how branded cultural projects shape public memory.