At this year’s Venice Film Festival, Marilyn Monroe will once again be in the spotlight through a newly unveiled 17-minute short film titled *Flesh Impact*. The project, sponsored by luxury automaker Genesis Motor America, features Dakota Johnson portraying a young Marilyn Monroe, with Ellen Burstyn taking on the role of an older Monroe—an imagined representation of the star had she lived beyond her 1962 death.

*Flesh Impact* was directed by this year’s festival jury president, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Speaking about Johnson’s casting, Gyllenhaal acknowledged the limited physical resemblance between the actress and Monroe but dismissed its importance. “I thought, ‘That’s ridiculous. Who cares?’” Gyllenhaal stated, noting that the public image of Monroe has been so heavily commodified and mythologized that no definitive likeness exists.

The concept of revisiting Monroe’s legacy this year is tied to what would have been the late actress’s 100th birthday in June. The short film’s production involved significant investment, including payments to the late star’s estate, Authentic Brands, which also manages rights for figures such as David Beckham, Elvis Presley, and Muhammad Ali.

Ellen Burstyn, 93, delivers a substantial portion of the film through a 15-page monologue, portraying Monroe as she auditions for a role in a stage play. Burstyn is scheduled to attend the Venice Film Festival to receive a Golden Lion award recognizing her lifetime achievements; last year’s recipient was actress Kim Novak.

The short follows strong interest in Monroe-related works at Venice, coming a year after the 2022 Netflix release of *Blonde*, which featured Ana de Armas as Monroe. This continued focus on Monroe at the festival highlights enduring curiosity in the star’s life and legacy, exploring her image from different creative perspectives.