'Blonde' Filmmaker Andrew Dominik on Brad Pitt Rescuing Him From Career Limbo and the Challenges of Film Funding: 'Sometimes You Have to Cast Inappropriately to Make It Happen'

At the Marrakech Film Festival, director Andrew Dominik spoke with French producer Ronald Chammah about his filmmaking journey, including the creation of Blonde, his collaboration with Brad Pitt, and his upcoming projects.

Dominik shared insights on his 2022 Marilyn Monroe biopic starring Ana de Armas, explaining that his intention was to explore how childhood experiences influence adult life, which evolved into examining the cultural myth of the blonde icon. The film delves into the darker and more intense elements of Monroes story, and it received a mixture of critical responses.

The Australian filmmaker admitted surprise at the audience reaction, noting, Its almost a horror story, which may not have been what people expected, but I enjoy it.

Dominik began adapting Joyce Carol Oates novel Blonde in 2008, but filming did not begin until more than a decade later. He mentioned that several actresses were considered before Ana de Armas, including Naomi Watts and Jessica Chastain, but securing funding was a challenge until Netflix joined the project in 2016.

He described becoming obsessed with Monroes appearance and realized de Armas was the right fit after seeing her in Knock Knock. Despite concerns about her accent, Dominik praised her performance, highlighting her unique charm and resemblance to Monroe.

Discussing talent discovery, Dominik expressed a preference for casting unknown actors, stating it allows audiences to fully accept characters. However, he acknowledged the necessity of well-known actors like Brad Pitt or de Armas for financing purposes. Until you have a bankable actor, nobody will fund a movie. Sometimes you have to miscast just to get it made, he explained, adding that this is why many films remain in development limbo.

Dominik credited de Armas with bringing Blonde to life, saying, A short screen test of her as Marilyn revealed the entire film.

On his relationship with Brad Pitt, Dominik said, Brad is the reason Ive continued working. Its like Im in director jail after a film, and he convinces the studio Im ready for a more accessible project. He really looks out for me.

Looking forward, Dominik shared interest in two very different projects: one exploring religious or spiritual themes, and another using AI as a generative visual tool. He described one as raw and unpolished, and the other as highly stylized and visually inventive.

Author: Maya Henderson