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FANNING SISTERS INK PROJECTS FOR 20TH
from The Hollywood Reporter,October 10, 2003
by Chris Gardner
The Fanning sisters -- Dakota and younger sister Elle -- are both heading off to work for 20th Century Fox.
Dakota Fanning, who most recently teamed onscreen with Brittany Murphy in MGM's "Uptown Girls," has found her way to the lead role in Fox's "Hide and Seek" for director John Polson. The project will see her star as Emily, the daughter of Robert De Niro's character who is torn up over the suicide of her mother. She begins to deal with her mom's death through an imaginary friend, which winds up taking an unexpected and terrifying turn.
Barry Josephson is producing from a script by Ari Schlossberg. At the studio, the project is being overseen by Peter Kang in Hutch Parker's TCF division. The project reunites Dakota Fanning with Fox, for whom she recently finished up a starring turn opposite Denzel Washington in "Man On Fire" for Elizabeth Gabler's Fox 2000 and helmer Tony Scott.
Meanwhile, Elle Fanning will be whistling her way into the studio's "Because of Winn-Dixie" for helmer Wayne Wang. The project, currently lensing in Louisiana, tells the story of a 10-year-old girl (newcomer AnnaSophia Robb) who moves to a Florida town with her preacher father (Jeff Daniels). Lonely and friendless, the girl grows close to a big, ugly, suffering dog named Winn-Dixie. Elle Fanning plays 5-year-old Sweetie Pie Thomas. Dave Matthews, Cicely Tyson and Eva Marie Saint round out the cast.
Joan Singleton adapted the screenplay based on the Newbery Award-winning novel "Because of Winn-Dixie" by Kate Dicamillo. Singleton also is producing along with Trevor Albert. Ralph Singleton is executive producing. At the studio, the project is being overseen by senior vp production Debbie Liebling for TCF's Parker.
Dakota Fanning next stars in "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat" opposite Mike Myers. She is repped by Cindy Osbrink at Osbrink Talent Agency, manager Booh Schut and attorney Steven Warren. Her other credits include "I Am Sam," "Taken," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Trapped" and NBC's "ER."
Elle Fanning is also repped by Osbrink at the Osbrink Talent Agency and manager Schut. She most recently starred opposite Eddie Murphy in Revolution Studios/Columbia Pictures' "Daddy Day Care." Her other credits include "CSI: Miami," CBS' "Judging Amy," "Taken" and "I Am Sam."

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