Elle Fanning has been working as an actress since she was a little kid. She’s 25 years old now, and her first acting credit came in 2001. So, she’s already had a twenty-plus year career in film and television. But that’s not enough for some producers and studios, because they’re mad that Elle Fanning is not some nepo baby who lives and dies by her Instagram follower count. Elle spoke to the Happy Sad Confused podcast this week about losing out of major roles because she didn’t have a big enough social media presence.
Whether she feels pressure to join big studio franchises: Fanning was asked if there is pressure on her career to join big studio franchises in order to stay “relevant” as an actor. “I don’t feel that [pressure]. I don’t,” Fanning said, while also acknowledging that joining the likes of Marvel, “Star Wars” or DC “does something” for other actors’ careers. “But you also don’t know if they’re going to work sometimes, which is scary.”
Fanning confirmed that she has auditioned for at least one big franchise movie. “I did try out for…I’m not going to say what it was, but I didn’t get a part once for something big because – it might not have just been this reason, but this was the feedback that I heard – was because I didn’t have enough Instagram followers at the time. So that was a little like…I firmly don’t believe in not getting a part [for that]. It was for a bigger thing, a franchise thing.”
She has never gotten far in the audition process for those franchise projects: “I would never say no to those things, but I would have to have a meeting and really talk to see what it is,” Fanning added about joining a franchise. “I didn’t have to go through what Nick [Hoult] did…they made him try the [Batman] suit on. You need a balance. If you want to do your indie work, especially in producing now…[having a big franchise] does make you breathe better.”
As Variety points out, Elle has around 7 million followers on Instagram. Those aren’t Kardashian-Jenner numbers, obviously, but completely respectable. What’s weird is that studios – especially Disney/Marvel – really persuade their stars to join social media to promote their projects and engage with fans. Instead of saying “wow, Elle already has a social media presence and a follower base we can build on,” they reject her because she’s not chronically online or trying to be an influencer. In any case, I’m glad she’s not worked up over it and I’m glad she’s happy with her already-successful career. It would be great if someone in charge had some imagination and realized that Elle has more acting range than all of the ladies with 50 million followers.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid and Cover Images.
Elle Fanning attends the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on January 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California,Image: 749946608, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Elle Fanning, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon 
London, UK, 16th Feb 2023. Elle Fanning. Mourners, friends and family attend the memorial service for attend memorial service for the late British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood who championed punk and new wave in the UK and worked with some of the biggest designers, celebrities and supermodels.,Image: 756599461, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Imageplotter / Avalon 
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Elle Fanning attends Daily Front Row’s 7th annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards on April 23, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.,Image: 771536799, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Elle Fanning, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer / Avalon
Beverly Hills, CA – Celebrities attend the Daily Front Row’s 7th Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awardsin Beverly Hills, California Pictured: Elle Fanning BACKGRID USA 23 APRIL 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: Juan Rico / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* 
The Daily Front Row’s Fashion Los Angeles Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Featuring: Elle Fanning Where: Beverly Hills, California, United States When: 23 Apr 2023 Credit: Media Punch/INSTARimagesncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcWlnZn11e8Slo56Xlpa7r7XNoJalp6OprKKrxauYp5uYnsCmq9Goo56XkpqwosHSnpasoJWUsaqwza2WoZmmmqymus6unqGXmZysp7vLpaawnaKofA%3D%3D