A short film titled Flesh Impact, directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and produced by the car brand Genesis, premiered at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival. The film features two actors portraying different versions of Marilyn Monroe: Ellen Burstyn, 93, plays Monroe at the age of 100, while Dakota Johnson portrays Monroe shortly before her death. The film was commissioned to honor the centennial of Monroe’s birth and includes product placement for Genesis’s electric SUV. Ellen Burstyn also received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the festival, a prestigious award given to artists who have made significant contributions to cinema. Flesh Impact explores Monroe’s life through two distinct stages. Burstyn’s character delivers a powerful monologue about her loneliness and struggles in Hollywood, while Johnson’s portrayal, though not physically identical to Monroe, captures some of her essence and vulnerability. Gyllenhaal explained that the film initially considered using AI to map Monroe’s face onto Johnson’s, but ultimately chose to rely on Johnson’s natural performance, which she found more moving and authentic. Ellen Burstyn shared that her portrayal of Monroe was influenced by a real-life encounter with the actress, including meeting her masseur, Ralph Richards. She reflected on how Monroe’s public persona was carefully constructed and how she could blend into a crowd without being recognized. Gyllenhaal noted that while AI was considered as a tool to enhance the film, it was ultimately abandoned in favor of Johnson’s emotional depth and authenticity. The 22-minute film includes a scene where Burstyn’s Monroe charges her car at a streetlight, drawing a contrast between Monroe’s era and modern technology. The film’s reception was mixed, with some critics finding Johnson’s transformation less convincing, while others praised Burstyn’s performance. A feature-length version of the film is expected in the future, though no official release date has been confirmed.