According to The Wrap, Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Elle Fanning (Super 8, Maleficent) have officially signed on for the lead roles in TriStar Pictures’ upcoming drama film adaptation of The Nightingale, which will be based on Kristin Hannah’s best-selling novel of the same name. The former child stars are set to portray the roles of estranged sisters Vianne and Isabelle.
This project marks the first time that the Fanning sisters will be acting together on-screen. However, the film will be the second collaboration between the acting duo as they previously starred in the critically-acclaimed 2001 film I Am Sam, where they didn’t have the chance to share the same screen due to Elle Fanning portraying the younger version of Dakota Fanning’s character.
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First published in 2015, The Nightingale follows the story of two sisters coming of age in France on the eve of World War II and tells the story or their struggle to survive the German occupation of France. The story is inspired by the courageous women of the French Resistance who helped downed Allied airmen escape Nazi-occupied territory and hid Jewish children.
“‘The Nightingale’ will be the first time we act on screen together. We have played the same character at different ages but have never spoken to each other in front of a camera.” The Fanning sisters said in a joint statement. “For years, we have looked for a film to do with one another and then this gem appeared. As sisters, to share our artistry with each other while bringing such a powerful sister story to life is a dream come true. We are so lucky to have our fearless director, Melanie Laurent, to guide us along on the journey. Let’s do this, sister!!”
Pick up a copy of the book here.
After more than 4 years since it was published, the novel had already sold over 3 million copies in the U.S. and has been translated into 39 languages. TriStar Pictures had acquired the film rights to the novel following its release in 2015.
The film will be directed by Mélanie Laurent, who worked together with Elle Fanning on the 2018 drama Galveston. The Nightingale adaptation is penned by Dana Stevens with Elizabeth Cantillon serving as a producer through her Cantillon Company banner. TriStar’s Nicole Brown and Shary Shirazi will be overseeing the project for the studio.
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Production on The Nightingale is expected to start in the Spring of 2020.
(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
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