Dakota Fanning And Sister Elle Fanning Poised to Share the Screen in ‘The Nightingale’ – Everything We Know So Far

In Hollywood, sibling duos often come and go, but Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning have turned it into an art form. Both have established luminous careers, balancing blockbusters and prestige cinema while never losing their shared sparkle. Beyond the screen, they helm Lewellen Pictures, proving that entrepreneurial flair runs in the family. Their bond, part sisterhood and part creative alliance, is enviable. Which is why the prospect of them stepping into the same frame for the first time feels electric.

Their long-awaited first collaboration may finally happen with the upcoming adaptation of The Nightingale.

Following the song of The Nightingale

Hollywood’s long-awaited sibling pairing will finally become a reality as Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning unite in The Nightingale. The production, adapted from Kristin Hannah’s acclaimed novel, will see the real-life sisters portraying Vianne and Isabelle, two women navigating the harrowing realities of German-occupied France and the struggles women face, something that Elle Fanning discussed with Jenna Ortega during Variety’s Actors on Actors. The project also marks a milestone for their production banner, Lewellen Pictures, which they operate alongside their acting careers. Industry observers are already predicting significant audience interest given the Fannings’ combined star power and critical acclaim.

For both Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, the collaboration represents years of anticipation. The duo, despite once sharing a credit in I Am Sam, have never appeared together in the same scenes as adult performers. This World War II drama, co-produced with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, offers them the opportunity to merge professional skill with personal chemistry. It is a union of talent and timing that has set industry chatter into overdrive.

Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning have already infused The Nightingale with undeniable star power, yet the ensemble promises to shine even brighter.

Who could join The Nightingale cast next?

While Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning have the headline roles in The Nightingale, the rest of the cast could transform the production from a two-star constellation into a full cinematic galaxy. Imagine Timothée Chalamet delivering resistance-fighter brooding opposite Elle Fanning, or Jean Dujardin lending gravitas as the war-scarred father. From Léa Seydoux’s luminous resilience to August Diehl’s morally conflicted German captain, the possibilities read like a dream dinner party guest list, if the dinner were taking place in 1940s occupied France.

The supporting roles offer a treasure chest of opportunity for scene-stealing performances. Lars Eidinger could terrify as the sadistic Sturmbannführer Von Richter, while Nathalie Baye could serve resistance realness as Madame Micheline Babineau. Even the child roles carry emotional heft, with Sophie Mauriac’s rebellious streak and Ari de Champlain’s fragile innocence offering poignant contrast. If casting directors play their cards right, The Nightingale could end up being less about who stars and more about who dares.

Which star would you add to The Nightingale’s ensemble? Share your dream casting choices in the comments below.