Even before The Equalizer arrived in theaters everywhere last September, Sony had plans for a sequel. During Sony Pictures big presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas yesterday, they confirmed that The Equalizer 2 has been greenlit, and that a second movie staring Denzel Washington is officially moving forward. It was always Sony's intention to build a franchise vehicle for Denzel Washington, and pre-production unofficially started on the movie in February of 2014 with Richard Wenk brought into write the screenplay.

In last year's The Equalizer, Denzel Washington starred as Robert McCall, a man of mysterious origin who believes he has put the past behind him, dedicates himself to creating a quiet new life. However, when he meets Teri (Chloe Moretz), a teenager who has been manhandled by violent Russian mobsters, he simply cannot walk away. With his set of formidable skills, McCall comes out of self-imposed retirement and emerges as an avenging angel, ready to take down anyone who brutalizes the helpless. The film was based on a popular 80s TV show of the same name starring Edward Woodward as the title character.

The Equalizer grossed $192 million worldwide from a respectable $55 million budget. It holds the highest-rated test screening for an R rated movie in Sony history. No further details about The Equalizer 2 plot have been revealed, and it's unclear if Antoine Fuqua will return to the director's chair. He is currently getting ready to shoot The Magnificent Seven remake with Denzel Washington in the lead. The Equalizer 2 does not yet have a release date. It will be the first sequel in the history of Denzel Washington's career.