Denzel Washington isn’t done with The Equalizer. The 69-year-old actor revealed in a winter 2024 cover interview with Esquire that he’ll be returning to the action-packed spy-thriller franchise for not one, but two new films.
“I told them I would do another Equalizer, and we’re doing 4 and 5,” Washington shared. His announcement comes as he prepares for the release of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, where he reunites with his Equalizer 2 co-star Pedro Pascal.
READ: Denzel Washington Confirms Two More ‘Equalizer’ Films: “We’re Doing 4 and 5”
Reflecting on the franchise’s widespread appeal, Washington added, “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!’”
Washington has starred in all three Equalizer films as Robert McCall, a retired government assassin turned vigilante. The trilogy, directed by Antoine Fuqua, began in 2014 and most recently continued with The Equalizer 3 in 2023, which many believed marked the end of McCall’s story. Fuqua himself hinted at its conclusion, saying in September 2023, “I’m going to miss Robert McCall…but it feels like it’s the last one.”
Clearly, Washington had other plans.
In the Esquire interview, Washington touched on his approach to balancing personal projects with fan favorites. “I’ll sometimes say to myself, ‘One’s for me, one’s for them,’” he said. “But I’ve come to realize that The Equalizer films are for me, too, because they’re for the people.”
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While details about the upcoming films are still under wraps, it’s safe to say fans of the franchise—and Washington’s McCall—are in for more justice, action, and those signature moments of calculated vengeance.
The Equalizer franchise has been a consistent performer at the box office since its debut in 2014. The original film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, earned $192 million globally on a $55 million budget, cementing Washington’s Robert McCall as a fan favorite. Its sequel, The Equalizer 2, followed in 2018, bringing in $190 million worldwide and making history as Washington’s first-ever sequel in his decades-long career.
Most recently, The Equalizer 3, released in 2023, dominated theaters with another $190 million global haul, proving that audiences remain captivated by McCall’s calculated justice. The trilogy’s success has solidified it as one of Washington’s signature roles and a standout action series.
Meanwhile, Washington’s next project, Gladiator II, hits theaters Friday, Nov. 22. As for The Equalizer 4 and 5, we’ll be waiting for Robert McCall to gear up for another mission.