Summary

• Dakota Fanning's character in The Equalizer 3 is revealed to be the daughter of franchise veterans Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman.
• The connection to Susan and Brian Plummer explains why Robert McCall chose Emma Collins to help him in the movie.
• The revelation hints at the possibility of Dakota Fanning's character playing a larger role if the franchise extends beyond The Equalizer 3.

Dakota Fanning's role as Emma Collins in The Equalizer 3 was highly anticipated, but her character's identity and history with Robert McCall proved to be much bigger than expected. Nearly two decades after Fanning and Denzel Washington starred in Man on Fire together, the actors reunited in The Equalizer 3. Fanning ed the franchise as Emma Collins, a DIA officer who becomes an unexpected ally to McCall as he fights the Italian mafia. This gave the duo plenty of time to work together again and share scenes, but The Equalizer 3 made Fanning's character more important by the end.

Fanning as Emma Collins gave The Equalizer 3 was a welcome addition which features Washington's McCall as the only returning character. For most of the movie, Collins is left in the dark about why exactly McCall called her desk at the DIA and used her to help break open the Italian mafia investigation. The truth comes in The Equalizer 3's ending, as there is more to Collins than expected and that she is not a complete stranger to McCall or randomly selected by him. They have a history that reshapes the franchise.

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Emma Collins Is The Daughter Of Melissa Leo & Bill Pullman's Equalizer Characters

Fanning's Character Is Related To Two Of McCall's Closest Allies

The big reveal The Equalizer 3 saves for near the end is that Dakota Fanning's character is the daughter of franchise veterans Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman. Leo and Pullman appeared in the two previous The Equalizer movies as Susan and Brian Plummer. Susan repeatedly helped McCall gain information and track down various leads, as she was one of McCall's most trusted friends and former associates.

Susan's death in The Equalizer 2 was a pivotal moment for the franchise and McCall. While both previous Equalizer movies showed glimpses of Susan and Brian Plummer's lives, it was not known that they had a daughter. The confirmation that Emma is Brian and Susan Plummer's daughter comes through a few details in The Equalizer 3. McCall mentions during a final conversation with Collins that her mother would be proud of her, hinting that he is aware of her heritage.

The movie then shows a picture on Emma's desk showing Melissa Leo, Dakota Fanning, and Bill Pullman's characters together. There's also Melissa Leo's short cameo in The Equalizer 3 to hammer home the connection between the characters.

Collins' Family Explains Why Robert McCall Chooses Her In Equalizer 3

Could Dakota Fanning's Character Return To The Equalizer Franchise?

The reveal that Dakota Fanning's Collins in The Equalizer 3 is Susan Plummer's daughter helps answer a lingering question from The Equalizer 3. She questions McCall repeatedly about why he chose her of all people to help him, but he dodges answering her. Knowing that Emma Collins is related to Susan Plummer perfectly explains McCall's decision.

McCall knew that he could trust Emma thanks to this connection, while he also likely wanted to help elevate her career at the DIA as she followed in her mother's footsteps. It also leaves the door open for Dakota Fanning to play a larger role if the franchise extends beyond The Equalizer 3.