The Equalizer 3 is officially a go with Denzel Washington back in the lead. After starring in the 2014 original along with its 2018 sequel The Equalizer 2, the acclaimed actor recently divulged to Collider that the third installment is his next film project. In fact, Washington has already begun the physical training and preparation that comes with starring in the action-packed film.
"They have written the third Equalizer, so I’m scheduled to do that. So I gotta get in shape and start beating people up again. I get to beat people up again. The tragedy of Macbeth and then going and beating some people up. Can’t get any better, right?"
Washington held back on revealing anything else too specific, though word is Antoine Fuqua is in talks to hop back into the director's chair after helming the previous two installments. This would mark Fuqua's next project after teaming up with Will Smith for the Apple TV+ project Emancipation. It's unclear if Richard Wenk, who wrote the first two movies, would be back to pen the script for part three.
The Equalizer is loosely based on the original TV series from the 1980s of the same name. The film follows a former U.S. Marine turned DIA intelligence officer who returns to action to protect a teen prostitute from the Russian mafia. Along with Washington, the film also stars Marton Csokas, Chloe Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Bill Pullman, and Melissa Leo.
Because the film was a box office hit, it was given a sequel in 2018 with Washington reprising his role. Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, and Orson Bean (in his final role) also starred. This time, Washington's Robert McCall seeks bloody vengeance when a good friend of his is murdered. This film was also a success at the box office.
Denzel Is Currently Impressing Critics With The Tragedy Of Macbeth
The latest film to star Washington is The Tragedy of Macbeth. Written and directed by Joel Coen, the film also stars Frances McDormand and is based on the original play by Shakespeare. Set for its release on Apple TV+ for streaming on Jan. 14, the film was a huge hit with critics, landing at a very impressive 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
"I knew I'd be directing the next one by myself," Coen recently said of his choice to take on this film solo. "If I was working with Ethan, I wouldn't have done Macbeth, it would not be interesting to him."
Of casting Denzel Washington, Coen added: "We'd had a lunch a number of years ago, we talked in a general way about working together if the right thing came along, that kind of conversation. When this came up he seemed like an obvious choice. We met once, and it was 'let's do it.'"
There isn't any word yet on when exactly The Equalizer 3 will start filming, but with Washington preparing to get back into character for that role, a start date can't be too far away.