Maggie Gyllenhaal’s upcoming film “Flesh Impact” will world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, featuring a unique dual-portrayal of Marilyn Monroe by Dakota Johnson and Ellen Burstyn. Created in honor of Monroe’s 100th birthday and presented by Genesis, the project explores the iconic actress through two distinct lenses with the blessing of the Authentic Brands Group estate holders.
Plot and Conception of Flesh Impact
According to production details released for the project, “Flesh Impact” offers two separate portraits of the Hollywood icon. Dakota Johnson portrays Monroe at the height of her fame, while Ellen Burstyn plays a version of the star that the world never got to see.
The film’s title originates from a descriptive phrase used for Monroe’s on-camera presence, reflecting how she appeared so real and luminous that audiences felt they could physically touch her through the screen. Writer and director Maggie Gyllenhaal stated in production announcements that she has always been fascinated by Monroe and wanted to collaborate with Genesis on a celebratory project for her centennial to showcase the timeless icon through a modern lens that reclaims her story.
Cast and Production Team
Alongside Johnson and Burstyn, the cast features Emmy nominees Peter Sarsgaard and Sepideh Moafi, according to project disclosures.
The film is produced by William Green for The Cut, Michelle Ross for Superprime, and Nicolette Spencer and Melissa Moore for INNOCEAN, with presentation by Genesis. Maddi Carlton, Brandon Boerner, Rebecca Skinner, David Webb, and Courtney Kivowitz serve as executive producers.
The below-the-line crew brings significant awards pedigree to the production. The team includes Oscar-nominated production designer Karen Murphy, Emmy-nominated casting director Mary Vernieu, BAFTA-nominated costume designer Jennifer Johnson, editor Affonso Gonçalves, and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Lawrence Sher.
Awards Potential and Festival Context
The Venice Film Festival premiere also serves as a career milestone for Ellen Burstyn, a six-time Oscar nominee who won Best Actress for “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” in 1975 and is set to receive the festival’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, as reported by festival organizers. Director Maggie Gyllenhaal previously earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Lost Daughter.”
Venice has frequently served as a launchpad for major awards contenders in recent years, though “Flesh Impact” enters the festival circuit without a distributor attached.
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