Dakota Fanning Is 'Proud Friend' of Denzel Washington 20 Years After “Man on Fire” as She Supports “The Piano Lesson”
Fanning and Washington also recently reunited for 'The Equalizer 3' after she starred alongside the Oscar-winner in 2004's 'Man on Fire'
Phillip Faraone/Getty
Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning.Dakota Fanning is looking back on one of her earliest roles — and spending some time with one of her former co-stars.
On Monday, Oct. 21, the Perfect Couple star, 30, stopped by a special screening of the upcoming film The Piano Lesson, an adaptation of August Wilson's 1987 play of the same name, starring Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington.
While attending the event, Fanning had an impromptu reunion with one of her first co-stars, Denzel Washington. The 69-year-old Oscar winner is John David's father and a producer of the period piece film.
Fanning and Washington posed for an adorable photo together, and Fanning later shared it to her Instagram Stories. "[The Piano Lesson] blew my mind!" Fanning wrote underneath a photo of herself and her former co-star, sitting next to each other on a bench with his arm around her shoulder.
"Proud friend," she added.
Phillip Faraone/Getty
enzel Washington and Dakota Fanning attend Netflix's "The Piano Lesson" Los Angeles tastemaker screening at Ross House on October 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Related: Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington Reunite to Film 'Equalizer 3' 18 Years After 'Man on Fire'
In 2004's Man on Fire, Fanning played a 9-year-old named Lupita Ramos relying on her former-CIA bodyguard John W. Creasy (played by Washington) to rescue her after she's kidnapped. It also starred Christopher Walken, Radha Mitchell, Marc Anthony and Mickey Rourke.
When the action thriller was released, Washington showed early support for Fanning and her acting skills — as she was just 10 years old at the time the film was released.
"She's a sweetheart, as you'll see if you've talked to her already. She's a bright young woman and she's just a joy to be around. You can't not like her," he told IGN at the time. "Dakota is a child, but she is a wonderful actor. And that's what we were doing together: acting. I don't know what a 'child actor' is. She's an actor who's a child."
When Fanning confirmed that she had been cast in the Washington-led Equalizer 3 in June 2022, she reacted on Instagram — and called Washington a "legend."
"My gratitude to share the screen once again with the legend of all legends is endless. Can't wait," she wrote.
Her actress sister, Elle Fanning, shared a message on her own page, writing, "The reunion to beat all reunions!!!!"
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Washington has proudly supported The Piano Lesson as the film has debuted at various film festivals. Outside of John David, the film also involves multiple members of his family — including his youngest son, Malcolm Washington, 33, who makes his directorial debut with the film, and his daughter Katia Washington, 37, also served as a producer.
Speaking with PEOPLE on the red carpet of the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday, Sept. 10, Denzel said: "I'm proud to be a part of August Wilson in some small way."
The star, who has past brought Wilson's plays Fences and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom to the screen, added, "I'm happy that people will get a chance to see what a filmmaker Malcolm is. I'm excited about our future together with August Wilson."
The Piano Lesson is in select theaters Nov. 8, then on Netflix Nov. 22.
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