Dakota Johnson has undergone a striking transformation to play Marilyn Monroe in 'Flesh Impact,' a new short film written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The 36-year-old actress swaps her brunette locks for Monroe's platinum blonde curls in the first-look image, wearing soft pink lipstick, fluttery lashes and the actress's trademark mole.
Film Details and Synopsis
The 17-minute project is described as a 'love letter' to Monroe, with Johnson portraying her 'at the height of her fame' while Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn plays 'a version of Marilyn the world never had a chance to see.' According to the official synopsis, the film follows a mysterious elderly woman auditioning for a play in a small New York theatre. As she recounts her acting career, long-held misconceptions about her life begin to unravel, revealing a more intimate version of the Hollywood icon.
Mixed Fan Reaction
Fan reaction to the first look was mixed. One wrote on X: 'She somehow even managed to capture her sultry eyes!' Another posted: 'I had no idea this was Dakota Johnson!' But others were less convinced. One person wrote: 'Looks absolutely nothing like her.' Another agreed: 'They don’t even have the same facial shape!'
Director's Perspective
Gyllenhaal admitted she briefly questioned whether Johnson resembled Monroe before deciding it didn't matter. '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 and she’s very blurry in my mind.' She described the film as 'a mixture of Marilyn and my fantasy of her' and said it's ultimately about 'actresses in general and what it’s like to have that strange, very vulnerable and, at the same time, very powerful job.'
Production and Premiere
The short also stars Sepideh Moafi and Peter Sarsgaard, Gyllenhaal's husband. It will receive its world premiere at this year's Venice Film Festival in September, arriving just months after what would have been Monroe's 100th birthday. Created with the blessing of the Marilyn Monroe estate and presented by Genesis, the project has been years in the making. 'I’ve always been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe,' 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.' Johnson previously worked with Gyllenhaal on 'The Lost Daughter.'
