Elle and Dakota Fanning are forming a sister act for the first time on screen.
Elle, 21, and her big sis Dakota, 25, are teaming up for an adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s bestselling 2015 novel “The Nightingale,” under the direction of actress and SAG Award winner Mélanie Laurent (“Inglourious Basterds”), 36, reports The Wrap. Set in 1939 France, the book — based on a true story — follows two sisters who have to make difficult decisions to survive when Nazis invade their country.
The clothes-swapping sisters did previously both appear in the 2001 Sean Penn drama “I Am Sam,” but they played the same character, Lucy, at different ages and didn’t act in scenes together. This marks the first time the duo will perform alongside each other.
Elle and Dakota released a joint statement to celebrate their first-time sister act.
“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,” they said. “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, Mélanie Laurent, to guide us along on the journey. Let’s do this, sister!!”
Elle, who acted in the Laurent-directed 2018 film “Galveston,” will next appear in Hulu’s upcoming “The Great,” a miniseries about Catherine the Great. Dakota has signed on to rejoin Daniel Brühl and Luke Evans for “The Angel of Darkness,” a sequel to their Emmy-nominated 2018 TNT series “The Alienist,” based on the novels by Caleb Carr. No premiere date has been set.