SEOUL, July 29 (AJP) - South Korean carmaker Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis is backing a 17-minute short film marking the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth. The project will make its world premiere at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival in September.
Genesis said Wednesday that the company played a vital role in the production of "Flesh Impact," by collaborating with Authentic Brands Group, which owns and manages the Marilyn Monroe estate. The film presents two interpretations of the world-famous actress, with Dakota Johnson portraying the actress at the height of her fame and Academy Award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn playing an imagined version of Monroe who lived into old age.
Actor and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal directed the project, while Peter Sarsgaard and Sepideh Moafi round out the cast. The company also unveiled the film's first promotional images.
The film will premiere at a festival where Gyllenhaal is serving as president of this year's jury and Burstyn is set to receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
The project is the latest in Genesis' series of cultural partnerships, following collaborations with New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and London's Tate Modern. Its Manhattan flagship, Genesis House, has also hosted a range of exhibitions and artist collaborations since opening in 2024, including an immersive floral installation with designer Jeff Leatham and a Korean folklore-themed exhibition created with actress Ashley Park last October.
Genesis' Marilyn Monroe centennial campaign began earlier this year with "Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon," an exhibition developed with Authentic Brands Group at Genesis House. Running from June 1 through Aug. 2, the exhibition explores Monroe's life and legacy through personal archives, photographs and immersive installations.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.