Given that the first time director Antoine Fuqua worked with Denzel Washington, the actor scored an Oscar for his work in Training Day, you can see why they’d want to team up again. Well, it’s taken a few years, but that moment may finally arrive, because Fuqua is in early talks to handle The Equalizer.
The film could certainly use a solid break in directing terms, since it’s been through more than one shot-caller already. Most recently, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes**’ Rupert Wyatt appeared to be the man for the job, but he passed in favour of Birdsong.
Sony and production company Escape Artists want this one shooting as soon as possible, after the latest script draft by Richard Wenk got everyone excited and led to the studio locking in Washington’s deal.
Though it’ll be only loosely based on the Edward Woodward-starring show from the 1980s, the new movie will retain the basic concept of a former intelligence operative-turned-private eye/vigilante who atones for the sins of the past by helping others fight injustice.
All involved are apparently hoping this launches a franchise for Denzel, so the thriller needs to kick things off properly. Fuqua’s shown he knows the crime world with Day and Brooklyn’s Finest, and though hasn’t always displayed the strongest touch with would-be franchise kick-offs (King Arthur), he could be a good fit here – assuming, that is, he signs on. His latest, White House terrorism thriller Olympus Has Fallen, hits our screens on April 17.