Michael Hoffman to direct Dakota Fanning in Girls’ Night Out

Ecosse Films producers Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae today announced Girls’ Night Out, a romantic fairytale to be directed by Michael Hoffman, starring Dakota Fanning, from a script by Trevor De Silva.

HanWay Films is handling international sales and will introduce the project to buyers at Berlin’s EFM.

Set on V.E Day, 1945, the ‘romantic fairytale’ inspired by true events follows the teenage Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret (to be played by Fanning) who are allowed out from Buckingham Palace for one night to join in the celebrations. Casting for the role of Princess Elizabeth will be announced shortly.

The film was developed in conjunction with HanWay who previously worked with Ecosse on Wuthering Heights, Nowhere Boy, Black Death, Brideshead Revisited and Becoming Jane.

Director Hoffman (The Last Station) commented: “From my first encounter with Trevor de Silva’s lovely script, I was smitten. Girls’ Night Out is both a fairytale and a classic love story imbued with all the romance of a Roman Holiday. The story’s wit, tone, fun and bittersweet yearning makes us all feel the quiet joy of growing into ourselves.”

Robert Bernstein added: “We’re very excited to have attracted such talent to what is a poignant and romantic story.”

Tim Haslam CEO of HanWay Films said: “This is a purely delightful, crowd pleasing story. Dakota Fanning is one of the brightest young stars.”

HanWay’s slate also includes David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method; Wim Wenders’ Pina, Kevin Macdonald’s Life In A Day, Steve McQueen’s Shame and Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights.