Dakota and Elle Fanning and set to appear as sisters in The Nightingale.
After over a decade of background work, the book adaptation is finally getting traction in Hollywood, receiving a 2027 release date. This is the first time the sisters will star in a film together.
Learn more about the Fanning sisters and The Nightingale below.
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What is The Nightingale About?
The Nightingale tells the story of two sisters coming of age in France on the eve of World War II. The two separate and go on different journeys during the war, all in a fight for survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France.
Premiere Date for the Film
The Nightingale adaptation is set to premiere on February 12th, 2027.
This is a perfect time for the film to hit theaters, with the double holidays of Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day landing in the same vicinity. Super Bowl Sunday falls within this timeframe, providing an opportunity to counterprogram with a project supported by a large fan base.
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Behind the Scenes
Dana Stevens wrote the script for the adaptation. Elizabeth Cantillon will produce for The Cantillon Company, the Fannings and Brittany Kahan Ward will produce for Lewellen Pictures, and Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter will produce for Hello Sunshine. Nicole Brown and Shary Shirazi are overseeing the project for TriStar Pictures.
Dakota and Elle Fanning are set to star in the film. This is the first time the sisters will be on screen together, and it is a big moment for both of them.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the sisters said:
“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. For years, we have looked for a film to do with one another and then this gem appeared.”
Popularity of The Nightingale
The Nightingale novel is written by Kristin Hannah. It has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide since its 2015 debut. It has also been translated into 45 languages. The book hit #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list and spent 165 weeks on the list across formats. The novel was named a Reese’s Book Club Pick.
In March 2025, a 10th Anniversary Edition was released, already selling a million copies this year.
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Journey to the Big Screen
The Nightingale has had a long journey to the big screen. TriStar moved to lock down the film rights in 2015, with Ann Peacock set to write the script and Cantillon to produce.
While Peacock moved on, Cantillon has been with the project ever since. Then writer-director Michelle MacLauren and co-writer John Sayles attached to a later iteration of the film, with the Fannings coming on to star in a version helmed by Mélanie Laurent.
However, as the project was about to get underway, COVID-19 delayed its start, and Laurent stepped back to focus on other projects.
Upcoming Projects
Dakota Fanning
Dakota Fanning is appearing opposite Sarah Snook in Peacock’s upcoming series All Her Fault in 2025. Past roles include The Watchers, The Equalizer 3, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, and War of the Worlds.
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Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning is appearing in Predator: Badlands on November 7th, 2025. She is also starring alongside Renaate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard in Sentimental Value. You may also know her from past roles in The Great, Maleficent, A Complete Unknown, or We Bought a Zoo.
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