Before shooting The Nightingale, Elle had made a line for her sister Dakota Fanning, who would play her on-screen sister in the World War II film.
The rule or promise was that her big sister would not act bossy during the shoot when they first started working together.
“She promised me she wouldn’t boss me around,” she told E! News from the Golden Globe 2026 red carpet. “That’s what she promised… the older sister. That’s not possible! You have to treat me like a fellow actor.”
Back to The Nightingale, it was first announced over six years ago. Considering the time frame, Elle shares details on when the cameras will roll, as the film is expected to be released in 2027.
“We’re about to start filming in a few months,” she says, adding, “It took a few years to make, but… this time we’re finally going to do it for real.”
The film is based on Kristin Hannah’s historical fiction novel, whose logline reads: “Two French sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, who take different paths to survive during World War II: the eldest, Vianne, must shelter a German officer to protect her family in Nazi-occupied France, while the rebellious younger, Isabelle, joins the Resistance to fight for freedom and demonstrate women’s resilience through impossible choices and wartime courage.”
