Elle and Dakota Fanning’s The Nightingale Movie Release Date Postponed

By Alexandria Wyckoff

Updated: July 13, 2026

The release date for Elle and Dakota Fanning’s The Nightingale has been pushed back.

Release Date Moved

Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning are set to star together in THE NIGHTINGALE, which arrives in theaters on March 19, 2027. pic.twitter.com/m2P07exPMA
— HiddenGemCinema (@HiddenGemCinema) July 12, 2026

The upcoming World War II-set movie will be the first time the siblings have starred together in a film. Its release date has been moved from February 2027 to March 2027.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony’s TriStar believes the lead-up to Easter Weekend will be a good time to release The Nightingale. Executives are also said to be hoping the move will provide a “female-centric counter programming” against Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 4, which premieres on March 19th.

Dakota on Sister Bond

Dakota Fanning shares what it was like to film "The Nightingale" with Elle:

"There are a lot of heavy themes that are unavoidable with the subject matter, and there are many days that were difficult, but there are also some really beautiful sister moments that are very light.… pic.twitter.com/cvxSegcXnG
— Dakota Fanning Nation (@fanningnation) July 8, 2026

Meanwhile, Dakota Fanning previously revealed her hopes that collaborating with her sibling on a film role would make their bond “totally unbreakable.”

She told Extra, “It’s almost like we’re sharing that last little piece of ourselves with each other of how we are on a set and how we are as actors and getting to share that with each other… So, I think we’ll be totally unbreakable after.”

However, the 32-year-old actress was worried that she might slip into the “bossy older sister” role on The Nightingale set with her 28-year-old sibling.

She said, “I have to already work on not being a bossy older sister on set. I’ve already been thinking about that. I have to treat her like I would treat anyone else.”

Elle’s “Best Friend”

Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning promoting their first joint film project ‘THE NIGHTINGALE’ produced by their own company. Photoshoot by Inez and Vinoodh for Vanity Fair. pic.twitter.com/vEBrVjIukp
— filmser (@filmser) July 11, 2026

Elle Fanning previously described Dakota as her “best friend,” whom she goes to for advice on everything, especially as they go into business together.

She told Extra in 2024, “I lean on her the most. She is my best friend, she is my number-one person I go to her for all the advice, for everything, and so I’m very lucky that I have a sister like that. We both understand what each other does and we understand the business, and to have that person, it’s very special.”

Elle added, “We created a production company together called Lewellen Pictures where we produce projects together, and we’re going to get to be on a panel to answer questions and to talk about our production company and to talk about the power of sisterhood.”