Blonde is one of the most hotly-anticipated movies of the year—and now we have our first images and trailer featuring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe.
The Netflix movie, which now has a release date in September, has been long-delayed due to disagreements over its adult content—with the film reportedly having an NC-17 rating.
The Blonde trailer does not give viewers much in the way of plot, but does see de Armas in some of Monroe's most iconic looks, including her pink Gentlemen Prefer Blondes dress and her white billowing gown from The Seven Year Itch.
Ana de Armas leads a cast that also includes Adrian Brody, Bobby Canavale and Julianne Nicholson. Here's what we know so far about the release date, cast, trailer and plot of the Netflix movie, based on the lengthy novel by Joyce Carol Oates.
When is Blonde coming out?
The movie has now been given a Netflix release date of Friday, September 23, 2022. This comes after nearly a decade of the project being stuck in development hell, with actors like Jessica Chastain and Naomi Watts among those formerly attached to play the movie icon.
However, filming on the movie finally began in August 2019. A 2021 release date was expected, and in April of that year, director Andrew Dominik told Collider that the film had been finished for some time. In July 2021 it was announced that the film was moving to 2022. Rumors abounded that this was due to Netflix's discomfort with some of the adult scenes in the film, including scenes of abuse.
Despite this, in March 2022 the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) confirmed they had rated the film NC-17 due to what they called "some sexual content."
Who is in the cast of Blonde?
Leading the cast is Knives Out, No Time to Die and Deep Water star Ana de Armas as a lightly fictionalized version of Marilyn Monroe.
Speaking to Netflix Queue, the Cuban-Spanish actor spoke about getting into character as one of the most famous actors of all time. She said: "I read Joyce's novel, studied hundreds of photographs, videos, audio recordings, films—anything I could get my hands on. Every scene is inspired by an existing photograph. We'd pore over every detail in the photo and debate what was happening in it. The first question was always, 'What was Norma Jeane feeling here?' We wanted to tell the human side of her story."
Joining her in the Blonde cast are the Oscar winning Adrien Brody as "The Playwright" (aka Arthur Miller) and Nine Perfect Strangers' Bobby Canavale as "The Ex-Athlete" (aka Joe DiMaggio). Mare of Easttown's Julianne Nicholson, meanwhile, is Monroe's mother Gladys.
Also starring in the film are Caspar Phillipson, Evan Williams, Toby Huss, Lily Fisher, Sara Paxton, David Warshofsky, Xavier Samuel, Michael Masini, Spencer Garrett, Chris Lemmon, Rebecca Wisocky, Scoot McNairy, Dan Butler, Garret Dillahunt, Lucy Devito and Ned Bellamy.
What is Blonde about?
The official Netflix synopsis reads: "Based on the bestselling novel by Joyce Carol Oates, Blonde boldly reimagines the life of one of Hollywood's most enduring icons, Marilyn Monroe. From her volatile childhood as Norma Jeane, through her rise to stardom and romantic entanglements, Blonde blurs the lines of fact and fiction to explore the widening split between her public and private selves."
De Armas told Netflix Queue: "Our movie is not linear or conventional; it is meant to be a sensorial and emotional experience. The film moves along with her feelings and her experiences. There are moments when we are inside of her body and mind, and this will give the audience an opportunity to experience what it was like to be Norma and Marilyn at the same time."
The film is also expected to adapt some of the novel's most controversial moments, like the presence of The Sharpshooter, a shadowy FBI agent tasked with taking out Monroe. The novel also repeats the oft-disputed claim from Norman Mailer's writing about the actor that she had 12 abortions.
Is there a trailer for Blonde?
The first teaser trailer was released on June 16. Mostly in black and white, it sees de Armas in front of a mirror, being made up by Toby Huss' character. Initially distraught, she ends the promo by throwing her head back and recreating a signature Monroe pose.
The rest of the trailer gives us a glimpse of some of the film's multiple meticulous adaptations of classic Monroe film scenes. We also see a scene of the actor being hounded by paparazzi.
The promo then ends with a title card, featuring the release date, and a confirmation of the film's NC-17 rating.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
