The Equalizer’s ending paid homage to the TV series with its final scene, but I’m glad the sequels ignored it. Much has been made of the fact that The Equalizer movies are the only time (to date) that Denzel Washington has reprised a character.
Washington has played the тιтular vigilante across three movies, while two more Equalizer sequels are on the way. While it appeared custom built for a sequel, screenwriter Richard Wenk told SpyHards that Denzel himself pushed against this idea while making the first one. In Denzel’s mind, audiences would decide if they wanted more.
The Equalizer ends with Washington’s McCall embracing his new idenтιтy as a vigilante who helps good people get out of trouble, through a combination of smarts, punches and the occasional cockscrew. The movie closes with McCall answering a Craigslist ad asking if he can help somebody out.
The Equalizer 2 Ignored The Original’s Lazy “Odds Against You?” Sequel Setup
The Equalizer’s ending was a studio note
This is a nod to the original show, where Edward Woodward’s McCall helped people after they contacted him through a classified newspaper ad that read “Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer.”
The issue with The Equalizer’s final scene is that the movie is very much its own thing, while this scene makes it look like the sequels will be more like the series moving forward. Outside of the basic setup, Denzel’s adaptation goes in its own direction.
It turns out the inclusion of this ad also went against the screenwriter’s wishes, who felt the movie and show needed to be separate enтιтies. Of the final scene, Wenk stated:
The only thing they did use from the TV show, which they jettisoned from the other movies as you’ll see, was the very end of the movie where he placed an ad online, which I fought against. But that was sort of the, you know, the compromise. But it never came up again in any of the other movies.
The Equalizer’s ending teases an adventure of the week formula for future sequels, where – like the show – each entry would involve McCall helping out a new client. This worked for the show, but it would have been a lazy approach for the movies to do the same.
The Equalizer Did A Great Job Separating From The Show
The Craigslist ad was the wrong McCall
The Equalizer was a really entertaining show, but it hasn’t aged terribly well and is considered more of a nostalgia item now. The Antoine Fuqua-directed movie was right to do its own thing, and it turns out the solution to the sequel tease was… to just ignore it.
Again, no shade on the original series, but since the film was tonally so different, trying to tie itself back into the show’s formula was a mistake. While they share some character traits, the movie and television McCalls are very different, with Denzel’s version being a lonely widower while Woodward’s McCall was divorced with two grown children.
This separation gave the adaptation its own unique persona and paved the way for sequels to do their own thing. However, had they followed through on the first movie’s ending tease, McCall might still be answering Craigslist ads.
The Equalizer Sequels Worked Because Each Entry Was Very Different
The Equalizer Goes To Italy!
Another element I like about The Equalizer movies is that they’re all distinct from each other. Part one is McCall finding his purpose, part two is seeking peace for his past and part three is about Robert finding a new home for himself.
Each Equalizer movie has its own tone, flavor and cast of characters, and they aren’t content to just repeat the original.
The Equalizer one is a gritty crime drama, part two is a thriller that sees McCall helping out various people while looking into a friend’s murder, while the third entry takes McCall to Italy. They all have their own tone, flavour and cast of characters, and aren’t content to just repeat the original.
Hopefully, The Equalizer 4 repeats this mantra – ᴀssuming it happens. If not, the series will be unique in itself for giving Denzel his only franchise.
Source: SpyHards Podcast
