Dakota Fanning ("I Am Sam") has won a plum role in Denzel Washington’s next flick "Man on Fire". Based on the A.J. Quinnell novel — first published in hardcover in 1980 — and adapted by Brian Helgeland, "Fire" centers on an American ex-soldier (Washington) living out his days in Naples, Italy. He reluctantly agrees to protect a child, Pinta Balletto (Fanning), whose parents are threatened by a rash of kidnappings. Unexpectedly, the caustic loner befriends the girl only to see his life take another turn when she is kidnapped and later murdered. Tony Scott will direct.
