Despite being only 25 years old, Elle Fanning already has an impressive career going back decades. That doesn’t mean she’s guaranteed a role, of course – in fact, Fanning recently confirmed that she’s lost out on acting opportunities due to not having enough Instagram followers.
Variety reports that, while on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Fanning spoke about her career and where it might be going next. During the talk, Fanning revealed that “I did try out for…I’m not going to say what it was,” Fanning teased. “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.”
The Georgia native also revealed that, though she has been acting since she was just two years old, she does not feel the pressure to join a franchise, superhero or otherwise, to stay relevant. However, Fanning did admit that she wasn’t totally closed off to the idea, saying, “I would never say no to those things, but I would have to have a meeting and really talk to see what it is. 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.”
Fanning can currently be seen in The Great, where she portrays Empress Catherine the Great, one of the greatest rulers to ever lead Russia. Her acting skills are on full display there, and her chemistry with her co-stars is phenomenal. It truly is a shame that Fanning may have lost out on a role due to social media, because she is a talented actress.
Fanning’s experience doesn’t seem to be a new one. While social media has come under fire for its outsized influence on politics, life, and pretty much every aspect of modern society, the fact of the matter is that it holds great sway over younger generations. On the other hand, executives should be cautious: Gen Z won’t be showing up because they recognize familiar influencers. Like all moviegoers, they’re looking to be entertained, and social media followings are not an accurate gauge of quality.
