Elle Fanning was recently on Josh Horowitz’s podcast Happy Sad Confused.
During the interview, the actress spoke about losing out on a major film franchise.
The reason?
Not enough Instagram followers.
She said:
“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.”
She continued:
"I firmly don't believe in not getting a part [for that reason]. But yeah, I would not say no to those [opportunities to star in a franchise]."
It is unclear at what point The Great star was in her career when she was passed up, but she now has 6.2 million Instagram followers.
Some thought she was referring to Sophie Turner in Dark Phoenix after an internet sleuth found a quote from Turner.
\u201c@PopBase UH-OH SOPHIE\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
In an interview with Net-A-Porter, Turner said:
“‘A lot of what I have achieved is about timing and luck, but it is also, and I hate to say it, about a big social-media following."
"I auditioned for a project and it was between me and another girl who is a far better actress than I am, far better, but I had the followers, so I got the job. It’s not right, but it is part of the movie industry now."
The internet is reeling at this discovery.
\u201c@tweetlepie @PopBase makes sense bc for the official concept art of young jean grey in the fox xmen films they used elle's likeness so technically she was the first choice which makes the situation even crazier\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@PopBase https://t.co/97JksdqoUY This is crazy cause even the concept art for Jean Grey has Elle\u2019s face on it \ud83d\udc40\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@tweetlepie @PopBase i\u2019m kinda surprised sophie has more followers. isn\u2019t elle a bigger name?\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@tweetlepie @PopBase Oh she was FOR SURE talking about dark phoenix. Elle dodged a bullet\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@tweetlepie @PopBase I like her self-honesty and humility though. Skills can easily be improved, unlike attitude. If this was about Dark Phoenix, it's a win in the end for Elle cause that movie bombed at the B.O.\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@tweetlepie @PopBase Thank you for the existence of comment sections BECAUSE HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUT\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@tweetlepie @PopBase IS IT DARK PHOENIX/JEAN GREY\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@tweetlepie @PopBase well at least Sophie knows Elle is a better actress\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@PopBase IF this is referring to Sophie Turner/Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix\u2026then she dodged a bullet ultimately. \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffd\u200d\u2642\ufe0f \n\nThe universe works in mysterious ways\u2026 that role did Sophie no favors honestly\u2026\n\nLesson learned as not even her social media following could help poor box office or reception\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@MediaverseCU @PopBase On the other hand I think Elle would have played that role better and probably could have boosted performance in the cast and box office. Sophie was not right for that all and thats why it did her no favors, totally agree on that.\u201d— Pop Base (@Pop Base) 1683847826
\u201c@Variety Elle Fanning is talented. If studios believe having major social media followers and not talent is what will get audience in theatre seats, they going to have a major wake-up call as more of their films will fail. Like what's happened to many in music and even the t-shirt biz.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1683842416
The early snub hasn't derailed Fanning's success.
The actor currently stars in The Great, completed the true crime miniseries The Girl From Plainville in 2022 and is reported to have another 4-5 projects in pre-production.
@veronicathesinger/Instagram
@rubengarza68/TikTok
@katescozyhome/TikTok
@joydesi/TikTok
@madmarkrussell/TikTok
