Dakota Johnson is stepping into one of Hollywood’s biggest roles. The actress will play Marilyn Monroe in Flesh Impact, a new short film directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
The project celebrates what would have been Monroe’s 100th birthday. It will premiere at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival.
The film also stars veteran actress Ellen Burstyn as an older version of Monroe.
Instead of telling the usual story, the film imagines what Monroe’s life could have been if she had lived much longer.
Why Dakota Johnson Was Chosen
Interestingly, Gyllenhaal first doubted her casting choice. Johnson does not closely resemble Monroe. However, the director quickly changed her mind.
“Then I thought, That’s ridiculous. Who cares?” she told Vanity Fair.
“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.”
Gyllenhaal also revealed Johnson stayed in her mind while writing the script.
“Dakota was always on my mind,” she said.
That feeling convinced her Johnson was the right actress for the role.
A Fresh Look at Marilyn Monroe
Rather than focusing only on Monroe’s tragic ending, Flesh Impact explores a different possibility. The story asks what her life might have looked like after decades of personal growth.
“What would’ve happened if she had 60 years to herself?” Gyllenhaal asked.
“What might be different about the work that she would do now?”
She added,
“This film is very much a mixture of Marilyn and my fantasy of her.”
According to the official synopsis, an elderly woman auditions for a play in New York. As she speaks, hidden truths about her identity slowly come to light.
More Than a Biopic
For Gyllenhaal, the project is also about actresses and the pressure they face.
“This movie is about Marilyn and also about actresses in general,” she explained.
“It’s like having a strange, very vulnerable, and, at the same time, very powerful job.”
She also praised Monroe’s talent, calling her acting
“weird and wild and very joyful, mixed with terribly upsetting all at once.”
Fans can expect a fresh and emotional tribute instead of a traditional biopic. With Dakota Johnson leading the cast, Flesh Impact could become one of the most talked-about films at the Venice Film Festival.
