Netflix has announced that Blonde, a biopic about Marilyn Monroe, will debut on September 23. The film, based on Joyce Carol Oates’s novel, stars Ana de Armas and marks a bold cinematic portrait of a woman whose life has long intrigued audiences. The streaming service revealed the release date via its social channels this week, building anticipation for a project that many fans have waited to see on screen.
The first trailer has been released, accompanied by a collection of stills featuring the Spanish-Cuban actress who embodies the iconic blonde Hollywood legend. Under the direction of Andrew Dominik, Blonde invites viewers into a stylized interpretation of Monroe’s life, balancing the public fascination with the private realities behind the spotlight.
Blonde presents a fictionalized narrative of Norma Jeane Baker, who rises from a difficult upbringing to become a symbol of glamour and fame. It traces her aspirations and the relentless scrutiny she faced as she navigated a world that often defined her by her image rather than her humanity. The film delves into the emotional currents that accompanied Monroe’s ascent, examining how she managed dreams of stardom while wrestling with the pressures and traumas that accompanied celebrity life.
Director Dominik offers production notes that the film centers on Monroe’s relationship with herself and the other main figures who serve as both shield and threat in her life. Ana de Armas delivers a committed performance, reportedly spending substantial time each day preparing through hair, makeup, and a demanding rehearsal schedule before capturing emotionally charged scenes. This immersive process signals a meticulous approach to portraying a figure whose life has been interpreted in many ways across decades of cinema and literature.
While Blonde revisits some of the era’s most memorable moments and Monroe’s work, including her performance in the 1953 Howard Hawks musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, it also takes dramatic liberties with certain events and relationships to craft a compelling cinematic experience. The film aims to offer a nuanced look at how Monroe’s public persona contrasted with private moments, inviting audiences to reflect on the realities that accompanied a life lived under perpetual scrutiny.
The cast for Blonde expands beyond Ana de Armas. Adrien Brody steps into the role of a playwright central to the era’s storytelling, while Bobby Cannavale portrays a former athlete connected to Monroe’s world. Julianne Nicholson appears as Norma Jeane’s mother, contributing another layer to the film’s portrait of family dynamics and the forces shaping Monroe’s identity. Together, the ensemble supports a narrative that seeks to illuminate the complexities and contradictions of a woman who remains one of cinema’s most enduring symbols.