Elle Fanning to Star in ‘Drive’ Director Nicolas Winding Refn’s Upcoming Horror Film

Elle Fanning began her career in the shadow of her older sister Dakota, already a star from films like ‘I Am Sam’ and ‘Man on Fire.’ In recent years though, she’s given the elder Fanning a run for her money, turning in strong performances in blockbusters like ‘Maleficent’ (she really looked like she was sleeping!) and working with directors like Francis Ford Coppola (‘Twixt’), Cameron Crowe (‘We Bought a Zoo’), and Sally Potter (‘Ginger & Rosa’). To that impressive list of filmmakers you can now add another big name: Nicolas Winding Refn, as TheWrap reports that Elle Fanning is currently “in negotiations” to star in Refn’s next project, a horror movie called ‘The Neon Demon.’

News of the movie, Refn’s first since 2013’s ‘Only God Forgives,’ first leaked out last November, when it was announced that Refn was turning his attention to directing a “female-driven horror film.” “One morning I woke and realized I was both surrounded and dominated by women,” Refn said at the time. “Strangely, a sudden urge was planted in me to make a horror film about vicious beauty. After making ‘Drive’ and falling madly in love with the electricity of Los Angeles, I knew I had to return to tell the story of ‘The Neon Demon.’”

TheWrap says Fanning’s role in ‘Neon Demon’ is that of “an aspiring model who is caught in a world of beauty and demise.” Refn also supplied the following quote about Fanning:

“Elle Fanning is a super cool wonder woman and I look forward to going on a terrifying trip with her into ‘The Neon Demon.’”

Working with Refn can add major coolness cred to an actor’s career; just look at what it did for Ryan Gosling (‘Drive’) and Tom Hardy (‘Bronson’). If ‘The Neon Demon’ recaptures that late-night L.A. vibe from ‘Drive,’ it could propel Fanning’s career to the next level, and truly make her the Fanning Prime.