Elle Fanning signs on to play Ali McGraw in Francis and The Godfather

Elle Fanning is moving from her Golden Globe-nominated performance in Hulu’s The Great to a movie project about one of the most revered films of all time.

The 22-year-old actress has signed on to play Oscar-nominated actress Ali McGraw in Francis and the Godfather, about the making of the 1972 classic The Godfather.

Barry Levinson is directing the film, which recounts the behind-the-scenes drama on director Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel, which is widely considered one of the best films of all time.

New role: Elle Fanning is moving from her Golden Globe-nominated performance in Hulu’s The Great to a movie project about one of the most revered films of all time

Ali: The 22-year-old actress has signed on to play Oscar-nominated actress Ali McGraw in Francis and the Godfather, about the making of the 1972 classic The Godfather

Ali: The 22-year-old actress has signed on to play Oscar-nominated actress Ali McGraw in Francis and the Godfather, about the making of the 1972 classic The Godfather

While McGraw didn’t star in The Godfather, at the time she was married to Robert Evans, who was Paramount’s head of production during The Godfather’s filming.

She joins an A-list cast including Oscar Isaac as Francis Ford Coppola, Jake Gyllenhaal as Evans and Elisabeth Moss as the director’s wife Eleanor Coppola.  

Filming is expected to take place this fall, though no distributor is in place at this time.

Robert and Ali: While McGraw didn't star in The Godfather, at the time she was married to Robert Evans, who was Paramount's head of production during The Godfather's filming

Robert and Ali: While McGraw didn’t star in The Godfather, at the time she was married to Robert Evans, who was Paramount’s head of production during The Godfather’s filming

New role: She joins an A-list cast including Oscar Isaac as Francis Ford Coppola, Jake Gyllenhaal as Evans and Elisabeth Moss as the director's wife Eleanor Coppola

New role: She joins an A-list cast including Oscar Isaac as Francis Ford Coppola, Jake Gyllenhaal as Evans and Elisabeth Moss as the director’s wife Eleanor Coppola

‘Elle is one of the most exciting and versatile actresses out there,’ director Levinson said in a statement. 

‘I am beyond thrilled that she has joined the terrific cast of ‘Francis & The Godfather’ and will bring her unique talent to the film,’ he added.

Levinson is directing from a script by Andrew Farotte, which the director re-developed after it made the Black List as one of the favorite unproduced scripts back in 2015. 

Exciting: 'Elle is one of the most exciting and versatile actresses out there,' director Levinson said in a statement

Exciting: ‘Elle is one of the most exciting and versatile actresses out there,’ director Levinson said in a statement

Mike Marcus, Doug Mankoff and Andrew Spaulding are producing for Echo Lake Entertainment, along with Kevin Turen, Jon Levin and Baltimore Pictures’ Jason Sosnoff. 

The project is actually one of two that are delving behind-the-scenes of The Godfather, with the other being the Paramount Plus series The Offer.

That project, based on producer Albert S. Ruddy’s experiences making the film, made headlines when Armie Hammer dropped out of the project, where he was playing Ruddy, after allegations of sexual misconduct arose. 

Two projectss: The project is actually one of two that are delving behind-the-scenes of The Godfather, with the other being the Paramount Plus series The Offer

Two projectss: The project is actually one of two that are delving behind-the-scenes of The Godfather, with the other being the Paramount Plus series The Offer

McGraw was married to Evans, who would go on to become a legendary producer of films such as Chinatown and Urban Cowboy, from 1969 to 1972.

She met Steve McQueen on the set of their film The Getaway, and were married in 1973, until they split in 1978.

Fanning will next be seen on the big screen alongside her real-life sister Dakota Fanning in The Nightingale, playing a pair of sisters separated by World War II, slated to hit theaters on December 23. 

Married: McGraw was married to Evans, who would go on to become a legendary producer of films such as Chinatown and Urban Cowboy, from 1969 to 1972

Married: McGraw was married to Evans, who would go on to become a legendary producer of films such as Chinatown and Urban Cowboy, from 1969 to 1972

Ali: She met Steve McQueen on the set of their film The Getaway, and were married in 1973, until they split in 1978

Ali: She met Steve McQueen on the set of their film The Getaway, and were married in 1973, until they split in 1978

Coming soon: Fanning will next be seen on the big screen alongside her real-life sister Dakota Fanning in The Nightingale, playing a pair of sisters separated by World War II, slated to hit theaters on December 23

Coming soon: Fanning will next be seen on the big screen alongside her real-life sister Dakota Fanning in The Nightingale, playing a pair of sisters separated by World War II, slated to hit theaters on December 23