Blonde Director Says There’s Something in the Movie to Offend Everyone

May 16, 2022

Director Andrew Dominik’s next film, Blonde, will tell the story of the life of actress Marilyn Monroe (portrayed by Ana de Armas). With the film set to carry an NC-17 rating, Dominik says he hasn’t given much thought to offending people who may be wary of a Monroe movie.

“I don’t know. It’s dangerous to do other people’s thinking for them,” Dominik said in an interview with Vulture. “Who knows? On the one hand, I think if I’m given the choice, I’d rather go and see the NC-17 version of the Marilyn Monroe story. Because we know that her life was on the edge, clearly, from the way it ended. Do you want to see the warts-and-all version or do you want to see that sanitized version?”

Dominik also mentioned that the general cultural climate around Blonde makes for a better time for it to come out. Had the film come out a few years ago, Dominik noted, it might have fallen victim to being perceived as an expression of the Me Too movement. Instead, it can now be a bit more ambiguous in its meanings.

“It’s an interesting time for Blonde to come out,” said Dominik. “If it had come out a few years ago, it would have come out right when Me Too hit and it would have been an expression of all that stuff. We’re in a time now, I think, where people are really uncertain about where any lines are. It’s a film that definitely has a morality about it. But it swims in very ambiguous waters because I don’t think it will be as cut-and-dried as people want to see it. There’s something in it to offend everyone.”

Described as a fictional take on the life story of Marilyn Monroe, Blonde is written and directed by Andrew Dominik, based on Joyce Carol Oates’ 2000 novel of the same name. The project has been in development since 2012, with Naomi Watts and Jessica Chastain previously attached for the leading role.

Further details about its plot and characters are still being kept under wraps. Joining de Armas are Adrien Brody, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Caspar Phillipson, Toby Hus, and more.

The film is produced by Plan B Entertainment, with Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tracey Landon and Scott Robertson serving as producers.