A haunted house and a controversial Netflix rating: Why everyone is talking about Blonde.

Netflix's new film about Marilyn Monroe, Blonde, has been on everybody's lips. 

Based on the bestselling 1999 novel written by Joyce Carol Oates, the film – just like the book – presents a fictionalised take on the life of the legendary actress. 

Ana de Armas, who recently starred as a Bond girl in No Time To Die, took on the arguably difficult role of Marilyn, despite the adverse reaction to her casting as the Hollywood icon. 

Watch the trailer for Netflix's Blonde below. Post continues after video.

Mare of Easttown's Julianne Nicholson will play Monroe's erratic mother, while Bobby Cannavale took on the character of Joe DiMaggio, who was a Yankees baseball player and husband of Monroe for nine short months. 

From a haunted house to a controversial casting, here is everything we know about Netflix's Blonde. 

There was controversy over Ana de Armas being cast in the leading role in Blonde.

De Armas, who has already proven to be a powerhouse in the acting world, came under fire when it was revealed she would be the one to bring Monroe back to TV screens again. 

Criticism came from those who believed it unfair that a non-Anglo-Saxon was cast as Monroe rather than de Armas, who took lessons for nine months in order to mask her Spanish accent.

The director of Blonde, Andrew Dominik, hand-picked de Armas after a 10-year-long search to fill the starring role.

Authentic Brands Group, which owns Monroe’s estate, defended the actor.

"Any actor that steps into that role knows they have big shoes to fill," ABG president Marc Rosen said, as reported by Variety. "Based on the trailer alone, it looks like Ana was a great casting choice as she captures Marilyn’s glamour, humanity, and vulnerability."

Ana de Armas in Blonde. Image: Netflix. 

De Armas claims Marilyn Monroe haunted her during filming for Blonde.

While filming for Blonde, De Armas admitted she struggled to play the role accurately but born out of that struggle was... Marilyn Monroe's ghost. 

They filmed parts of the movie in the same home Monroe once lived in. Controversially, even the same room the actor died in was part of Blonde. 

In conversation with Deadline, the actor said she "truly" believed "that she was very close to us. She was with us".

"She was all I thought about, she was all I dreamed about, she was all I could talk about. She was with me and it was beautiful."

De Armas added: "Being in the same places that she was, filming in her house, it was a very strong sensation there was something in the air and I think she was approving of what we were doing."

Despite feeling as though she had the trust of Monroe, de Armas claimed the spirit of the long-deceased actor would "throw" objects and "get mad" if there were specific scenes she disapproved of. 

"She would also throw things off the wall sometimes and get mad if she didn’t like something," the actor said, according to Reuters.

"Maybe this sounds very mystical, but it is true. We all felt it."

Listen to The Spill, Mamamia's daily entertainment podcast. Post continues after audio. 

Blonde is the first ever Netflix movie to receive an NC-17 rating. 

Blonde is one of the most controversial films in recent date and is the first movie released by Netflix to have an NC-17 rating. 

The first-of-its-kind Netflix rating is a result of its graphic depictions of sexual violence. The rating means Blonde technically cannot be watched by anyone under the age of 17. 

While it's not confirmed what the film may include, the novel depicts a violent rape scene between the protagonist and a producer named 'Mr. Z'.

When is Blonde going to be released?

After a number of delays, Blonde is finally set for release on September 28, only on Netflix.

Feature Image: Netflix.