Elle And Dakota Fanning Star In WWII Drama The Nightingale
Sisters Elle and Dakota Fanning are one of Hollywood’s most famous pairs of siblings, but they’ve never starred together in the same movie- until now. The Nightingale, based on the book of the same name by Kristin Hannah, is currently in production and will see the pair star as two sisters living in France during the Second World War. Here’s everything we know so far:
What is The Nightingale about?
Kristin Hannah’s novel was released a decade ago in 2015, and would go on to become a bestseller and be translated into 45 different languages. Attempts to adapt it for the screen have been ongoing since, but now an adaptation appears to be finally arriving in cinemas. The book tells the story of sisters Vianne and Isabelle, who live in France as the country is invaded by Germany during World War II.
Vianne’s husband leaves for the front, and eventually her house is requisitioned by a German officer. Isabelle, meanwhile, joins up with the French resistance in Paris, in a bid to stop Nazi forces. She falls in love with one of her fellow resistance members, and both women are forced to make some impossible choices during their years under occupation.
The novel garnered attention and a sizable following for its themes of survival and fighting for freedom, as well as for highlighting the lives of women during the war. While it’s not definitively known who is playing who, Vianne is the eldest sister, so Dakota is almost certainly playing her, while Elle will be Isabelle. Speaking back in 2023 about the project on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Elle commented that she was excited to be working with her sister and that “The script is so good, the book is so beloved, I’m hoping that that does work”.
What else do we know, and is there a release date?
The film is set to be directed by Michael Morris, who most recently directed Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, and written by Dana Stevens (The Woman King). If you’re intrigued to see the film, though, you’ve got a while to wait: The Nightingale is not set to arrive in cinemas until 12th February 2027- so until then, look out for more details and an official trailer.
