Maggie Gyllenhaal is keeping busy. The Oscar-nominated actress and rising director has confirmed that she's already begun writing her next two features, even as she continues to bask in the aftermath of her bold 2026 release, The Bride!. Gyllenhaal shared the news during a press conference at the Busan International Film Festival, where she was on hand to present her new short film, Flesh Impact.
According to Gyllenhaal, the two projects are still in their infancy, and she's perfectly happy with that. "I have two budding ideas that I've started to begin to write," she explained. "And I don't know what they're about. I mean, I generally do. But I find as I work — and this is true when I was an actress, it's even true with every film I've made as a director — that what they're really about reveals itself to me as I get a little deeper into it."
She added that the process is both exciting and a little scary. "You start thinking, 'Oh, I'm making a monster movie' or whatever it is, and then you think, 'Oh, this is why this came to me, this is what I need to learn right now, and why I'm making this at this moment.' And those two projects, those new ones, I'm open and I'm in that very exciting place where I'm kinda like, 'What is this gonna ultimately be about?' And it feels good."
Flesh Impact: A Monroe Tribute with a Twist
Before those new features take shape, Gyllenhaal is drawing attention for Flesh Impact, a short film commissioned by Korean luxury car brand Genesis to mark what would have been Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday. The film stars Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn and Dakota Johnson as Monroe at different stages of her life, with Emmy nominees Peter Sarsgaard and Sepideh Moafi rounding out the cast. It's described as a phantasmagoria that doubles as a love letter to Monroe and a sharp meditation on the nature of acting and celebrity.
The short screened at Busan as part of the festival's Special Screenings section, alongside the Monroe classic Bus Stop. For Gyllenhaal, it's another example of her willingness to take creative risks and explore new facets of her directorial voice.
The Bride! Cements Her Auteur Status
Earlier this year, Gyllenhaal unveiled The Bride!, a daring reimagining of James Whale's 1935 classic Bride of Frankenstein. Starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, the film divided critics and underperformed at the box office, but it undeniably solidified Gyllenhaal as one of the most original and fearless filmmakers working today. The film's bold choices and uncompromising vision have sparked conversations among genre fans and awards watchers alike.
For those who missed it in theaters, The Bride! is now streaming on HBO Max. And for more on the legacy of the Bride of Frankenstein, check out our coverage of Kelly Thompson's graphic novel, which gives the iconic character a voice 90 years later.
What's Next for Gyllenhaal?
With two new projects in the works and Flesh Impact earning praise on the festival circuit, Gyllenhaal shows no signs of slowing down. She's fully committed to her directing career, and her willingness to embrace the unknown is part of what makes her work so compelling. As she put it, not knowing exactly what a project will become is "that very exciting place" — and audiences will undoubtedly follow her wherever she goes next.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on Maggie Gyllenhaal's upcoming projects and all things entertainment.
