Denzel Washington had a 'fatherly' bond with Dakota Fanning on the set of Equalizer 3

The director of Equalizer 3 has opened up on the sweet relationship between Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning.

The two actors first met on the set of Man on Fire when Fanning was just 10 years old when she starred alongside the legendary Hollywood star.

Two decades after that incredible partnership, the two have joined forces again for the third instalment of

Antoine Fuqua (director) and Richard Wenk's (writer) amazing franchise.

Even though Dakota is all grown up now, it didn't stop Denzel from holding onto a 'little bit of a fatherly, mentor relationship' with his costar.

Fuqua told PEOPLE: "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: "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."

Equalizer 3 is set for release on September 1 and we'll get to see this chemistry for ourselves.

Denzel opened up about how different it was filming with Dakota now versus in 2004 when they shot Man on Fire.

"It was weird, you know, 'cause I'm like, 'Oh she's a grown woman'," he said to Entertainment Tonight.

"She was like a grown woman then, but now she's a grown woman. And, you know, obviously a great talent... It wasn't really strange, 'cause she was bringing it."

In the same interview, Fanning revealed they have actually managed to stay in touch after all these years as she is friends with one of his daughters from their time together at New York University.

She told ET: "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."

As for the reunion all these years later, Fanning summed up: "It's been almost 20 years and I was quite young [in Man on Fire], but that's not an experience that one forgets.

"The second time, I felt the same, like, my body felt the same feeling that I remember feeling all those years ago -excitement and a little bit of nerves and wanting to be as prepared as possible. He definitely is an actor that keeps you on your toes constantly."