LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning are coming together after almost 20 years for ‘The Equalizer 3.’

The two last worked together in ‘Man of Fire’ (2004) when Fanning was just 10 years old.

Antoine Furqua is once again making the latest sequel. Talking about his cast members, the director said that Washington, 68, had a "little bit of a fatherly, mentor relationship" with Fanning, 29, while filming together.

How surprised was Denzel Washington to see Dakota Fanning's transformation?

Antoine Fuqua added, "But also, Dakota is very competitive, and, obviously, as a child her first experience with Denzel Washington is very powerful, emotional."

"But you can see how she has grown quite a bit. I think it was more fascinating for Denzel than anyone else," he added.

The maker shared how Washington took time getting used to it. "Every once in a while when I would yell cut he would just look over and be like, 'I can't believe she's like a grown woman now.' I think it was more fascinating for him than anyone else," he continued.

The-57-year-old shared his experience of working with both the actors with ‘different styles.’ He also said that he finds Washington and Fanning "both extremely professional and focused — laser-focused."

What is so special about Antoine Fuqua-Denzel Washington pair?

"With Denzel, we have our rhythm and our process which has been established since training day, so it's quite different than with Dakota," explained Fuqua.

He added, "But by the end of it, it was very similar rhythm that I had with Dakota where I wouldn't even have to tell her something and she would just adjust. She knew. It's that high-level intelligence and professionalism."

In ‘The Equalizer 3,’ fans will see Washington playing his iconic character of Robert McCall, a retired government assassin. His character is now living in a small town in Italy, fighting off the mafia.

Fanning will be playing a CIA agent called Emma, a young analyst who works with McCall and does impressive investigative work, reports People.

"During rehearsal, just in conversations you could see the repertoire between the two and the love they both have for each other and the respect. That was fun for me to watch," Fuqua added.

'The Equalizer' franchise started back in 2014 after they loosely adapted from the 1980s TV series of the same name.

Denzel Washington partnered with Antoine Fuqua to introduce this franchise and now it has a strong fan base, reports MEAWW.

‘The Equalizer 3’ will be released in theaters on Friday, September 1.