Netflix’s Marilyn Monroe Biopic Will Be Rated NC-17

Netflix’s Marilyn Monroe biopic, Blonde, is set to have an NC-17 rating. The film, which follows the life of the 20th-century pop culture icon and sex symbol, is also based on a novel written by Joyce Oates. Blonde has been in development as far back as 2010, facing setbacks in the form of financing and an inability to hold onto a leading actress.

Originally, Naomi Watts was touted to star in the biopic but was subsequently replaced by Jessica Chastain. Then, in 2019, it was announced that Ana de Armas would play the part of Marilyn. Helmed by the wholly determined Andrew Dominik, principal photography finally began in August of 2019 after Netflix picked up the production. Featuring opposite de Armas are Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Sara Paxton, Julianne Nicholson, Rebecca Wisocky, and Toby Huss.

In a recent development, Slash Film reports that Netflix has granted Blonde an NC-17 rating. Andrew Dominik, who has proven resilient in his mission to see the biopic through, allegedly faced some resistance from Netflix over the desired rating. The streaming platform supposedly took issue with some of the more graphic sexual and physical content that Dominik sought to portray, but has since acquiesced to the director’s wishes.

While Blonde explores the life of Marilyn Monroe as a beloved societal icon, it also documents her hardships. Some of the most difficult periods in Monroe’s life undoubtedly occurred in her youth and would also include her experiences with sexual assault and harassment. Dominik, known for his compelling work on Chopper and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, is likely to have pushed the boundaries with this latest biographical piece. In order to properly demonstrate the struggles endured by Monroe, particularly in a time before MeToo, it seems reasonable for Netflix to allow some extra leeway without totally disregarding its standards on sexual content.

Dominick has previously expressed his wish to depict the Marilyn Monroe known by the public, versus the one seen only in private. In an era that has come to realize the extent of historical sexual abuses, particularly in the entertainment industry, it seems Blonde may be arriving at a perfectly opportune time. Though it has struggled through seemingly endless delays, Blonde could receive a level of appreciation and understanding now, which it might have lacked only eleven years ago. Come 2022, Blonde may show audiences just how it earned its NC-17 rating.