Vanity Fair has unveiled exclusive first-look stills from Flesh Impact, a new 17-minute short film written and directed by Academy Award nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal. Created to honor what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, the film explores the icon’s legacy, vulnerability, and unrealized artistic potential. The newly released images feature Dakota Johnson styled in Monroe’s signature platinum waves, bold lipstick, and beauty mark, alongside Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn as an imagined, older version of the screen legend.
A Dual Portrait of an Icon
Rather than a traditional biopic, Flesh Impact functions as a speculative narrative about what might have been had Monroe lived for decades longer.Dakota Johnson plays Monroe during the peak of her mid-century Hollywood stardom. Gyllenhaal—who previously directed Johnson in The Lost Daughter—noted that while Johnson does not naturally share a strict physical resemblance to Monroe, her depth as an actor captured the exact energy needed to reframe the icon through a modern lens.
Ellen Burstyn plays an elderly Monroe. Burstyn, who moved in similar Hollywood circles during Monroe’s lifetime and studied at the Actors Studio, delivers a dramatic audition monologue as a version of Marilyn the world never got to witness.
The title Flesh Impact is derived from a phrase used by director Billy Wilder to describe Monroe’s unique aura on camera—the tactile illusion that she was so vivid and luminous on screen that viewers felt they could reach out and touch her.
Logline & Plot
Set in New York City, the film centers on a mysterious elderly woman who auditions for a play at a small black-box theater. As she shares her acting qualifications and past credentials, hidden truths about her identity and long-held misconceptions about her life begin to bubble to the surface.
Cast & Creative Team
In addition to Johnson and Burstyn, the short film features a talented ensemble including Peter Sarsgaard and Sepideh Moafi (The Pitt). Behind the scenes, Gyllenhaal assembled an exceptional creative team featuring cinematographer Lawrence Sher (Joker), production designer Karen Murphy (Elvis), and costume designer Jennifer Johnson (I, Tonya). The film was created with the authorization of Authentic Brands Group (the Marilyn Monroe Estate) and presented in partnership with luxury automaker Genesis.
Premiere & Release Details
Flesh Impact will make its World Premiere at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival in September. The festival premiere holds special significance, as star Ellen Burstyn will also be honored at the event with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.