According to Denzel Washington, two more potential The Equalizer 4, with franchise director Antoine Fuqua expressing interest in continuing if Washington was willing to return.

In a recent interview with Esquire, Washington shares a surprising new update on the franchise, revealing that The Equalizer 4 and The Equalizer 5 are both in development. Though the actor doesn't provide a development or production timeline regarding the next two installments, he does break down his thought process regarding his return as McCall, explaining why the character and the films resonate with audiences. Check out Washington's comment below:

“I told them I would do another Equalizer, and we’re doing four and five. 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!”

What Washington's Equalizer Update Means For The Franchise

Washington Will Likely Reteam With A Frequent Collaborator

EW: "Obviously, if [Denzel] wanted to do another one, I would as well, but I don't see it." Fuqua, then, will likely be returning to the director's chair for the next movies.

As seen in the chart below, the three Equalizer movies have been consistently successful with audiences and at the box office, meaning it's probably a safe bet that the fourth and fifth movies will follow this same pattern. The Equalizer 3's audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, for example, is a strong 94%, and the film grossed $191 million worldwide. Considering the film was made on an estimated budget of $70 million, the highest of the franchise, it was likely looking at a break-even point of between $140 million and $175 million.

The Equalizer franchise's box office grosses do not increase commensurate with the films' budgets, and this means the fourth film likely won't be made for more than $70 million. If it trades the Italian setting of The Equalizer 3 for somewhere in the U.S. again, it may actually end up costing less. It remains unclear, however, what the fourth film's story will be and how it will pull McCall back into the action after his retirement.

How Washington's Schedule Affects The Equalizer 4 & 5

The Actor Has A Number Of Projects Lined Up That Could Push Back McCall's Next Outing

As of writing, there is no expected release date for the next Equalizer movie, and it's likely that it's still very early days for the project. Washington has revealed that he has several projects currently lined up, which could mean that there will be a bit of a wait for McCall's next adventure. He's set to team up with Fuqua for a movie about Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, for example, but he also recently revealed that he will appear in Black Panther 3, on top of his planned work in adaptations of Shakespeare's Othello and King Lear.

With all these projects on the horizon, Washington could well be playing McCall in The Equalizer 5 at close to 80 years old, which could start to strain credulity.

Washington, however, is nearly 70 years old. It's possible that The Equalizer 4 will be fast-tracked, but audiences could end up seeing a noticeably older McCall in the next outing. With all these projects on the horizon, Washington could well be playing McCall in The Equalizer 5 at close to 80 years old, which could start to strain credulity. Fuqua has previously teased that he has considered de-aging Washington for an Equalizer prequel movie, but, as was seen with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and the de-aging of Harrison Ford, this is wildly expensive to do.

Washington can next be seen as part of the cast of Gladiator 2 from director Ridley Scott.

Our Take On The Equalizer 4 & 5

Should Robert McCall Return?

Washington's three Equalizer movies may not be the best or most innovative action-thrillers out there, but they are consistently entertaining, and Washington remains as charismatic a screen presence as ever. With Washington guaranteed to be in his early or mid 70s by the time the next installment comes out, it could be limited in of the action sequences it presents. Thankfully, one of McCall's greatest strengths is his ability to out-think his opponents instead of just defeating them with brute strength, and this gives the character a certain amount of longevity.

If Fuqua returns as director, The Equalizer 4 will be in good hands, but it does also feel as if it might be best to let the franchise rest. The third film gives McCall a satisfying sendoff and it stops the violent saga before it becomes too ridiculous. Regardless, however, it does seem as if more Equalizer movies are coming, meaning audiences haven't seen the last of McCall just yet.

Source: Esquire