The Nightingale is an upcoming American historical drama film directed by Michael Morris and written by Dana Stevens, based on the 2015 novel by Kristin Hannah. It stars sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning.
The Nightingale is scheduled to be released in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on February 12, 2027.
In March 2015, TriStar Pictures acquired Kristin Hannah's book The Nightingale and hired Ann Peacock to write the script and Elizabeth Cantillon to produce. On August 11, 2016, TriStar hired Michelle MacLaren to direct and re-write with John Sayles, until MacLaren left before production shutdown.
In December 2019, Mélanie Laurent signed on to direct from a script by Dana Stevens with Cantillon still attached to produce. Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning were set to co-star as the sisters.
Principal photography was set to begin on October 26, 2020, with scenes to be shot in Budapest and Los Angeles, but Laurent put the project on hold less than a week before shooting was to commence to direct The Mad Women's Ball instead, intending to return to The Nightingale as her next film. In September 2021, Laurent commented on the film's status and the delayed production, "It's super hard for us to find another date and to make everybody on board at the same time, so it's a mess."
In 2023, Elle expressed hope that the project would come to fruition. In July 2025, it was announced that development on the film had been revived, with Michael Morris now directing the film and the Fanning sisters now also set to produce. In January 2026, Edmund Donovan joined the cast. In February 2026, Shira Haas and Mark Rylance joined the cast.
Principal photography began on March 29, 2026, in Budapest.
The Nightingale is scheduled to be released in the United States on February 12, 2027.
The film was first set to be released on August 10, 2018; then was pushed to December 25, 2020; then December 22, 2021; and lastly December 23, 2022 before landing on its final date.