Elle Fanning reveals she lost out on a role for a ‘big’ movie franchise due to ‘not having enough’ followers on Instagram

Elle Fanning revealed she lost a ‘big’ movie franchise role due to having a low follower count on Instagram while appearing on an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast that aired Thursday.

The Emmy-nominated actress, 25, who recently wowed in a plunging silver gown at The Great premiere in Los Angeles, stopped by to talk about her career and the industry with host, Josh Horowitz. 

At one point, the blonde beauty was asked if there was any ‘pressure’ to join franchises such as Marvel or Star Wars. 

The star admitted that she didn’t ‘feel that way’ but explained, ‘it does something for people, but you also don’t know if it’s going to work sometimes, which is scary.’ 

Fanning, who notably starred in Disney’s Maleficent franchise, recalled trying out for a big role, which she chose to not disclose, went on to recall a time that she ‘didn’t get a part’ due to having a small social media presence. 

‘Pressure’: At one point, the blonde beauty was asked if there was any ‘pressure’ to join franchises such as Marvel or Star Wars

‘It might not have just been this reason, but this was all the feedback that I heard, was because I didn’t have enough Instagram followers at the time. So that was a little like…’ 

‘That, I firmly don’t believe in,’ Fanning told the podcast host, and continued, ‘It was for a bigger thing, a franchise thing.’ 

She explained that if the opportunity arose in the future that she wouldn’t ‘say no to those things. But I would have to have a meeting and really talk to see what it is.’ 

Elle then referenced to her The Great co-star, Nicholas Hoult, who had been in the running for the role of Batman, which eventually went to Robert Pattinson. 

‘I didn’t have to go through what Nick did, you know, doing all that stuff…trying the suit on,’ she noted. 

However, the younger sister of actress, Dakota Fanning, emphasized the importance in having balance in what projects an individual undertakes. 

‘Because if you want to do your indie work, especially in producing now, I realize, well, there are scripts that I want to take a chance on and produce and they’re small, but then you know you have to know, maybe it’s about the experience.’ 

‘But then, okay, if you have the backing of knowing that you have that thing, it does make you breathe better,’ the Super 8 actress further explained to Josh. 

Although she had lost out on the franchise role, Elle has been keeping busy with her successful Hulu series titled, The Great, with the third season having officially premiered on the streaming site on Friday. 

Low followers: Elle recalled trying out for a big franchise, which she chose to not disclose, but stated she ‘didn’t get a part’ due to having a small social media presence

‘Feedback’: She explained, ‘It might not have just been this reason, but this was all the feedback that I heard, was because I didn’t have enough Instagram followers at the time. So that was a little like…’

Opening up: ‘That, I firmly don’t believe in,’ Fanning told the podcast host, and continued, ‘It was for a bigger thing, a franchise thing’

The Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series, created by Tony McNamara, additionally stars Nicholas Hoult, Sacha Dhawan, Phoebe Fox, and also Adam Godley. 

The third season continues to follow Elle’s character, Empress Catherine, and her husband, Peter III (Nicholas), with the 10-episode season concluding with shocking twists. 

During an interview with Harper’s Bazaar last month in April, the Cartier ambassador, who exuded an elegant, spring bride at the 2023 MET Gala earlier this month, opened up about portraying Catherine of the years. 

‘She takes risks, but she has to work herself up to it. She’s powerful, but not always the most powerful person in the room. She can be both scheming and naive. She’s a girl and a woman,’ the star explained. 

‘I’ve been playing Catherine in such formative years of my life. I’ve grown as a woman alongside her.’ 

Aside from the Hulu show, Fanning has a number of other projects up her sleeve, such as starring alongside her sister, Dakota Fanning, in an adaptation of the novel titled, Nightingale, written by Kristin Hannah.

Successful series: Elle has been keeping busy with her successful Hulu series titled, The Great, with the third season having officially premiered on the streaming site on Friday

Embracing the role: ‘I’ve been playing Catherine in such formative years of my life. I’ve grown as a woman alongside her,’ Elle told Harper’s Bazaar; seen at the 2023 MET Gala earlier this month in NYC 

A team: ‘We are a good team, because I’m more cynical about things. I’m a bit more of a snob,’ she humorously added, expressing that Dakota, ‘has to ground me a little bit’; the sisters seen in March in West Hollywood 

The official premise follows, ‘The lives of two sisters living in France are torn apart at the onset of World War II,’ according to an IMDB synopsis. The project, however, has been pushed back since 2021 and is currently still in its pre-production stages.

While on the podcast, Elle, who split from boyfriend Max Minghella last month in April, discussed working with her sister, and stated, ‘We are pretty much on the same page, I will say. But we can like, convince each other. We are pretty diplomatic.’

‘We are a good team, because I’m more cynical about things. I’m a bit more of a snob,’ she humorously added, expressing that Dakota, ‘has to ground me a little bit. And then I’m like, “Oh God, you’re right. Yes.”‘

In regards to The Nightingale project, the star hinted she felt, ‘It was coming back around. And I think we both would want that to be the one, honestly. The script is so good. The book is so beloved. I’m hoping that does work.’