By “The Equalizer” franchise is anything but over.
Oscar winner Denzel Washington is out promoting “Gladiator II” right now with rave reviews for his performance. In recent years though, he’s been known for his work on the film franchise adaptation of iconic 1980s CBS series “The Equalizer”.
The second and third “Equalizer” films mark the only sequels Washington has ever done to a film he starred in, and all three films in the series have done well – each budgeted at a tight $70 million or so and each pulling in a remarkably consistent $190 million theatrically as well as doing strong business on home video.
Speaking with Esquire for their latest cover story, he says he’s not only willing to do more films but has already lined up two more:
“I told them I would do another Equalizer, and we’re doing four and five. More people are happy about that – people love those daggone Equalizers. But I’ve come to realize that the Equalizer films are for me, too, because they’re for the people. They want me to go get the bad guys. ‘We can’t get them, so you go get them.’ And I say, Okay, I’ll get them! Just wait right there. I’ll be right back!”
Antoine Fuqua directed and Richard Wenk penned all three previous films so it’s likely both will be back for the next entries. There’s been no word from Sony Pictures though regarding more.
Meanwhile CBS is so happy with its Queen Latifah-led “The Equalizer” crime drama series that the upcoming sixteenth episode of the show’s fifth season will introduce two new guest-starring characters that are expected to anchor their own spin-off series according to Deadline.
Casting is underway for the roles – one a skilled younger female martial artist, weapons expert and criminologist with a secret origin story. The other an older male and former top CIA operative. In the main series, the woman turns to McCall (Latifah) for help.
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