The first plot details for the upcoming action sequel The Equalizer 3 have now been revealed courtesy of returning director Antoine Fuqua. In an interview with SlashFilm, the filmmaker has now revealed that the follow-up will delve more into the mysterious past of Denzel Washington’s enigmatic avenging angel, all while taking him on a global adventure.
"Hopefully, reveal a little more about Robert. Yeah, I think that's the key, to learn more about Robert McCall."
The Equalizer 3 will not only peel back the curtain somewhat on the secretive past of Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), it will also find the action hero jetting off to foreign lands. Having now beaten up everyone in the United States, Robert will need to board a plane in order to once again ply his trade, with Fuqua revealing that production on The Equalizer 3 will be scouting for locations in Italy.
"We're shooting it in Italy, so that'd be fun. We're going to scout now. Sardinia, probably show up somewhere up the Amalfi Coast. Also, trying to find some small villages, seaside villages, things like that, and then we'll be in Sicily and Naples."
Taking Robert McCall and his particular set of skills abroad has always been a dream of Antoine Fuqua. While the previous two outings for The Equalizer have kept things rooted in one place, it sounds like The Equalizer 3 will see Robert set his sights on a very different horizon. "In my mind, there's a European adventure, absolutely," the filmmaker said back in 2018. "In my mind, that's what I'd like, to see him in Europe, in the future. God willing." Some dreams do indeed come true.
The Equalizer 3 Will Hit Screens in 2023
Released in 2014, the first installment in The Equalizer franchise reboots the 1980s TV series of the same name, and follows Academy Award winner and Hollywood icon Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, a man of mysterious origin who believes he has put his violent past behind him and has dedicated himself to a quiet new life. However, he is dragged into deploying his talents for violence and death when he falls afoul of a Russian mob. Using his particular set of formidable skills, McCall comes out of self-imposed retirement and emerges as an avenger, ready to take down anyone who brutalizes the helpless.
The Equalizer franchise has been met with mixed reviews from critics so far, but it has been popular with audiences, with the first outing grossing over $192 million at the box office and leading to a sequel. The Equalizer 2 landed in theaters in 2018, and was once again met with a mixed response but similarly went on to gross $190 million worldwide. So, thanks to its no-nonsense action movie stylings and a reliably intense performance from Denzel Washington, The Equalizer franchise will continue with a third installment.
The Equalizer 3 will see Denzel Washington reunite with his Man on Fire co-star Dakota Fanning. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Richard Wenk, The Equalizer 3 is scheduled to be released on September 1, 2023, by Sony Pictures.