Dakota Fanning Is 'Proud Friend' of Denzel Washington 20 Years AfterMan on Fireas She SupportsThe Piano Lesson

Mar. 15, 2025

Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning.Photo:Phillip Faraone/Getty

Phillip Faraone/Getty

Dakota Fanningis looking back on one of her earliest roles — and spending some time with one of her former co-stars.

While attending the event, Fanning had animpromptu reunionwith 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.

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.Phillip Faraone/Getty

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,” hetold 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 Fanningconfirmed that she had been cast in the Washington-ledEqualizer 3in 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!!!!”

Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington in ‘Man On Fire.'.Jurgen Vollmer/20th Century Fox/Regency/Kobal/Shutterstock

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Washington has proudly supportedThe Piano Lessonas 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 PEOPLEon 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 playsFences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottomto 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 Lessonis in select theaters Nov. 8, then on Netflix Nov. 22.

source: people.com