Dakota Johnson, Ellen Burstyn Play Marilyn Monroe in Short

Dakota Johnson and Ellen Burstyn are both stepping into the shoes - and the platinum blonde curls - of Marilyn Monroe for a new short film directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The project, which has just been unveiled, casts the two actresses as different “versions” of the Hollywood icon, though exact plot details remain under wraps.

The announcement, which surfaced earlier this week, marks a fascinating convergence of talent. Johnson, best known for her role in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, will bring her cool, modern presence to the role. Burstyn, a legendary Oscar winner with a career spanning seven decades, will offer a more seasoned interpretation of Monroe. The pairing alone suggests Gyllenhaal is exploring the many faces of one of cinema’s most mythologized figures - perhaps the public persona versus the private woman, or the young starlet versus the troubled icon.

A Director with a Knack for Complex Women

Maggie Gyllenhaal has built a reputation for putting women front and center in emotionally layered stories. Her directorial debut, The Lost Daughter (2021), earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and a slew of praise for its unflinching look at motherhood and desire. That film starred Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, and Dakota Johnson herself - so this new short continues a creative partnership.

Gyllenhaal’s lens often focuses on the cracks in a woman’s public image, making Monroe a natural subject. Monroe has been portrayed on screen many times - from Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn to Ana de Armas in Blonde - but rarely by two actresses in the same project. The “versions” concept could allow Gyllenhaal to play with time, memory, or even the fragmented ways Monroe was packaged for public consumption.

Star Power Meets Legendary Craft

Dakota Johnson has steadily expanded her range beyond the blockbuster wattage of Fifty Shades. She earned strong reviews for The Lost Daughter, Cha Cha Real Smooth, and the recent Madame Web, showing a willingness to take risks. Choosing to portray Monroe - already an overexposed role - with Gyllenhaal’s guidance suggests Johnson is leaning into arthouse credibility.

Ellen Burstyn, meanwhile, needs no introduction. The 93-year-old actress won an Oscar for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and earned nominations for The Exorcist, Same Time, Next Year, Resurrection, and Requiem for a Dream. She’s played real-life figures before (including a memorable turn as a journalist in The Stone Angel), but bringing her gravitas to Monroe is a compelling choice. Burstyn was born in 1932, just four years after Monroe, and came of age in the same Hollywood system. She might bring a firsthand understanding of the era’s pressures.

What We Know (And What We Don’t)

The short film currently has no confirmed runtime, release date, or distributor. It’s unclear whether it will premiere at a festival, appear as a standalone online release, or serve as a proof-of-concept for a larger project. Given Gyllenhaal’s rising profile and the A-list cast, a festival bow (Cannes, Venice, Sundance) seems likely.

The title of the short hasn’t been announced either, nor has the full supporting cast - the metadata only lists Dakota Johnson. But a short film with two Monroes doesn’t need many more characters to make an impact.

Why This Matters Right Now

Marilyn Monroe remains a perennial figure in pop culture, but the conversation around her has shifted. Recent years have seen a reckoning with the exploitation she endured during her life and after her death. Gyllenhaal, Johnson, and Burstyn are all artists who’ve spoken about the need for nuanced female stories. Their collaboration feels less like a nostalgic biopic and more like an attempt to reclaim Monroe’s image on her own terms - or at least offer a more honest mirror.

For now, fans will have to wait for more details. But the combination of three smart, fearless women behind and in front of the camera promises a short film that digs deeper than the usual impersonation. Whether you’re a Monroe obsessive or just a fan of great acting, this one is worth keeping on your radar.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter