Denzel Washington Stays In Touch With One Co-Star 20 Years Later And It’s So Heartwarming
Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning may have only starred in two movies together, but the two stayed in touch in the 20 years between those films. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Fanning talked about their sweet relationship, saying, “I’ve obviously, you know, known Denzel for a big part of my life, and one of his daughters is one of my closest friends, so I’m always in the loop,” and, “He has always been so good to me and kind to me, and I feel such a connection to him because he’s known me for so long. (via Entertainment Weekly).”
So not only did Fanning remain friends with Washington for two decades, but she also added another member of the Washington family to her friend group.
Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington will finally star together in The Equalizer 3, nearly 20 years after Man on Fire.
Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning first acted together in the 2004 film Man on Fire when Fanning was just ten years old. The film starred Washington as an ex-CIA operative John Creasy who takes on a job as bodyguard for Lupita (Fanning), the daughter of a wealthy businessman named Lupita. When Lupita is kidnapped, Creasy must face off with corrupt cops and criminals to find her.
Man on Fire was undoubtedly one of Dakota Fanning’s biggest early roles, and for a young actor, it’s hard to think of too many people better than Denzel Washington as a mentor. Fanning undoubtedly learned quite a bit from Washington during Man on Fire, but Washington has sung her praises of how talented she was at a young age. Now they’re finally going to star in a film again together in the upcoming film The Equalizer 3.
“I’ve obviously, you know, known Denzel for a big part of my life, and one of his daughters is one of my closest friends, so I’m always in the loop. He has always been so good to me and kind to me, and I feel such a connection to him because he’s known me for so long.”
Dakota Fanning on her friendship with Denzel Washington
The Equalizer 3 is the latest and final film in Denzel Washington’s Equalizer franchise, which follows Washington’s retired U.S. Marine and former DIA officer, Robert McCall. In The Equalizer 3, Robert McCall is in Southern Italy and discovers his friends are under the thumb of the local crime boss, leading McCall to come to the conclusion that he’ll have to take on the mafia.
Along with Washington and Dakota Fanning, the film will also star David Denman, Sonia Ammar, Remo Girone, Sonia Ben Ammar, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Daniele Perrone, Andrea Scarduzio, and Gaia Scodellaro.
Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning aren’t the only two reunited on The Equalizer 3, as the film will also be the fifth collaboration between Washington and director Antoine Fuqua. Fuqua also directed Washington in Training Day, The Equalizer, The Magnificent Seven, and The Equalizer 2. With all these familiar elements reuniting, The Equalizer 3 is shaping up to be another exciting final entry to the franchise.
Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning aren’t the only two reunited on The Equalizer 3, as the film will also be the fifth collaboration between Washington and director Antoine Fuqua.
After The Equalizer 3, Denzel Washington is also reportedly in final negotiations to reunite with his American Gangster director Ridley Scott in the upcoming Gladiator sequel. Washington will be joined by a star-studded cast that includes Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, and Derek Jacobi.
Dakota Fanning’s next big project will be the horror film The Watchers, which comes out in 2024, but you can see both Washington and Fanning much sooner when The Equalizer 3 hits theaters on September 1.
