There will be two Marilyn Monroes at the Venice Film Festival this year.
Maggie Gyllenhaal‘s Flesh Impact will world premiere at the 2026 fest, presented by Genesis and created in honor of Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday. Ellen Burstyn and Dakota Johnson star as two versions of the Hollywood icon. Here’s everything to know about the project.
Plot
Flesh Impact offers two portraits of Marilyn Monroe: Dakota Johnson plays the star at the height of her fame, while Ellen Burstyn plays a version of Monroe the world never got to see. The title comes from a phrase used to describe Monroe’s on-camera presence — that she appeared so real and luminous that audiences felt they could touch her through the screen. The film was made with the blessing of the Marilyn Monroe estate holders, Authentic Brands Group.
Cast
Ellen Burstyn and Dakota Johnson both portray Marilyn Monroe. They’re joined by Emmy nominees Peter Sarsgaard (Dopesick, Presumed Innocent) and Sepideh Moafi (The Pitt).
Behind the Camera
Maggie Gyllenhaal writes and directs. The film is produced by William Green for The Cut, Michelle Ross for Superprime, Nicolette Spencer and Melissa Moore for INNOCEAN, and is presented by Genesis. Maddi Carlton, Brandon Boerner, Rebecca Skinner, David Webb, and Courtney Kivowitz serve as executive producers.
“I’ve always been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe. So, when Genesis first came to me with the idea of a celebratory project for her centennial, I knew I wanted to work together on bringing this story to life,” Gyllenhaal said. “With Flesh Impact, we showcase the timeless icon we know and love through a modern lens that reclaims her story.”
Awards potential
The Venice premiere doubles as a career-honor moment for Burstyn, a six-time Oscar nominee who won Best Actress for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore in 1975 and receives the festival’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement this year. Gyllenhaal was previously nominated for a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for The Lost Daughter.
Venice has been a consistent launchpad for awards contenders in recent years — including last year’s Frankenstein, Bugonia, and The Voice of Hind Rajab — though no distributor is attached to Flesh Impact yet.
The below-the-line team also carries awards pedigree that could extend the film’s reach into the crafts categories: Oscar-nominated production designer Karen Murphy (Elvis), Emmy-nominated casting director Mary Vernieu (The Last of Us, Euphoria) and BAFTA-nominated costume designer Jennifer Johnson (I, Tonya, Bugonia) join editor Affonso Gonçalves (Hamnet) and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Lawrence Sher (Joker) on the crew.
