Mark Rylance and Shira Haas Cast in TriStar’s Adaptation of The Nightingale

Mark Rylance and Shira Haas Join Cast of ‘The Nightingale’

Mark Rylance and Shira Haas have been cast in TriStar Pictures’ film adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s celebrated novel, The Nightingale. This project will also feature Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, marking the first time the sisters share the screen in a feature film. Edmund Donovan has also been announced as part of the cast.

Michael Morris will direct the film, with a screenplay by Dana Stevens. Production is being managed by Elizabeth Cantillon of The Cantillon Company, alongside Dakota and Elle Fanning and Brittany Kahan Ward of Lewellen Pictures. Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter will produce for Hello Sunshine.

Scheduled for theatrical release on February 12, 2027, The Nightingale aims for a prime spot during the Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day holiday weekend. The film tells the poignant story of two sisters in World War II, navigating perilous paths in their struggle for survival, love, and freedom amid the tumult of German-occupied France.

The Nightingale has achieved remarkable success, selling over 11 million copies worldwide, and has been translated into 45 languages since its debut in 2015. The novel has consistently resonated with readers, reaching #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list and spending a total of 165 weeks on the list across various formats. It also topped NPR’s fiction chart for 45 weeks and was recently selected as a Reese’s Book Club Pick in March 2023. In recognition of its continued popularity, a special 10th Anniversary Edition released in March 2025 reached #2 on the NYT hardcover list, while the book has sold a striking one million copies in the current year alone.

Nicole Brown and Shary Shirazi are overseeing the project for TriStar Pictures.

Rylance is widely recognized for his performances in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies, for which he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has also starred in Ready Player One and The BFG. Rylance’s accolades include three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, three BAFTAs, and a SAG Award. His recent credits feature roles in Wolf Hall, Don’t Look Up, and Dunkirk, with his next appearance in Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film Artificial.

Haas gained international acclaim for her leading performance in the Netflix limited series Unorthodox, earning nominations from the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Awards, along with a win at the Independent Spirit Awards. Her notable work includes her breakout role in the series Shtisel, as well as projects like Bodies and Marvel’s upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. She will next be seen in Peter Morgan’s adaptation of Ira Levin’s thriller The Boys from Brazil and the WWII drama Triumph of the Will.

Haas is represented by Zohar Ya’kobson Representation, TFC Management, and Gersh, while Rylance is represented by CAA and Jodi Peikoff of Peikoff Mahan Law Office.