NEED TO KNOW
Elle Fanning is taking a trip down memory lane — to when studios had “crazy” premieres tailored-made for kids.
Fanning caught up with PEOPLE exclusively while attending the premiere for her new action movie, Predator: Badlands, in Los Angeles on Nov. 3.
During the conversation, the 27-year-old actress reminisced about a time in the early aughts when studios held lavish premiere parties for children’s movies that all of Hollywood’s youngest talent would attend.
“Remember back then when there were kids’ premieres? Like, [they were] amazing. There were elephants and it was crazy,” Fanning recalls.
“I remember going to those with my sister,” she adds of Dakota Fanning, 31. “I’d get my little outfit ready and walk down [the red carpet]. I’ve always loved fashion, so […] I loved the kids’ premieres of the early 2000s.”
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
The A Compete Unknown actress also recalled an annual Halloween charity bash hosted by Jamie Lee Curtis in Santa Monica, Calif., noting that she still enjoys dressing up for Halloween to this day.
SGranitz/WireImage
Fanning went on to discuss her current project, Predator: Badlands, the most recent installment in the Predator franchise which also draws from the Alien franchise. In the film, set in the distant future, Fanning plays two roles: Thia, an android, and her rival, an android named Tessa.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“This is the furthest set into the future of an Alien film or a Predator film. Meaning the synths […] that I played were both the most advanced we’ve seen so far,” Fanning explains. “Especially Thea’s personality is very big and emotive and empathetic, and we’ve played with that. And also she has great comedic timing. She is full of humor, which you’ve never seen a synth be quite this funny before maybe. If people think I’m funny.”
Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
She added that the film used a number of practical effects, and that she and her costar, Dimitrius Schuster‑Koloamatangi, did many of their own stunts.
“I was really hooked up to him, back to back, flying through the air and doing all of [these stunts],” she says, noting that they became extremely close throughout the filming process.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
“We are very close, […] and he’s such a good actor. He just is so amazing with the physical challenges, the acting challenges we had,” she says.
Predator: Badlands arrived in theaters on Nov. 7.
