Dakota Fanning lines up undercover agent role for new Apple TV+ thriller
Is it even possible for a 31-year-old to have a Hollywood career spanning more than 25 years? Well, it certainly is for Dakota Fanning. A child prodigy who dominated the early 2000s scene with her impeccable acting as a 5-year-old, she is known as one of the most recognizable faces in cinema, earning acclaim for roles in films like 'I Am Sam' and 'War of the Worlds' with Tom Cruise. Unlike several child stars, she has managed a seamless transition into roles as an adult. Her transition from a precocious talent to a seasoned performer has been a delight to witness. The next chapter of Fanning's journey will continue with a major new series order at Apple TV+.
Dakota Fanning Stars In Thriller Series Greenlighted By Apple TV From Alex Cary & Sony Pictures TV https://t.co/JyFYN1UNOu
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) January 15, 2026
As per a recent Deadline report, Apple TV+ has officially greenlit a series order for an unnamed thriller starring Fanning. She will also serve as executive producer. 'Homeland' fame Alex Cary is behind creating the project, and Sony Pictures Television is backing it up. It found its way to Apple TV+ following a competitive situation last year. Apple initially commissioned a writer's room, a move that has paid off with an official go-ahead and a strong vote of confidence in the material and the star associated with it.
As per the outlet, in the upcoming series, Fanning "will star as an undercover Treasury agent in a multibillion-dollar international conglomerate, with world-changing political and criminal tentacles, who becomes conflicted between her mission and a belief that her principal target, the heir apparent to all that corrupt power, is at his core a good man and worthy of her love." Julie Gardner and Kari Skogland are also serving as executive producers along with Fanning and Cary. With such renowned names attached to the project, it already shows potential to be a prestigious thriller aligned with Apple TV+'s global ambitions.
Against this backdrop, Fanning already found success with her previous streaming show last year, 'All Her Fault'. Starring opposite Sarah Snook, known for 'Succession', the former delivered one of her most compelling performances, earning praise for her emotional restraint and intensity. She played a mother, caught in the wrath of the overbearing pressure of being a parent, and also balancing her job as she searched for her friend's missing son. 'All Her Fault' further cemented Fanning's status as a streaming sensation.
That being said, her recent movie releases haven't enjoyed the same fortune. Her last two projects, 'The Watchers' (2024) and 'Vicious' (2025), underperformed at the box office and led to curiosity about her movie prospects in a theatrical landscape that is constantly shifting. Could a deeper dive into streaming be her new calling? Beyond acting, Fanning is also expanding her footprint as a producer. Through Lewellen Pictures, she is also executive producing another upcoming Apple TV+ show, 'Margo’s Got Money Troubles', starring her sister Elle Fanning alongside Nicole Kidman. It's a sign that her influence in Hollywood is only continuing to grow.
