Remember when Nicolas Winding Refn nearly directed “The Equalizer,” but parted ways with Sony Pictures after creative differences? (presumably, his version was way more violent). Instead, Sony went with Antoine Fuqua and something that’s actually just as violent, perhaps cartoonishly so, albeit more conventional and mainstream.
In the vigilante action thriller, “The Equalizer” starred Denzel Washington as a retired CIA black ops operative who lives quietly in Boston, who gets mad, then wants revenge and then uses the hardware store he works at to wreak creative havoc on his foes. In “The Equalizer 2,” Washington is back for more, discovers one of his longtime friends has been murdered and decides to return to his old ways and seek out, find and punish the perpetrators. Essentially, do not fuck with Denzel or any of his friends or you are toast. Antoine Fuqua is back for more with his dynamic, explosion-happy style of filmmaking.
And oh yeah, Denzel no longer works in that hardware store. Now, he’s an Uber driver and one that doesn’t take kindly to his passengers being abused.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Denzel Washington returns to one of his signature roles in the first sequel of his career. Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed – but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?
‘Equalizer 2’ is based on the screenplay by Richard Wenk who wrote the original ‘Expendables’ and has an affinity for tough guy action thrillers: he wrote “The Mechanic,” “The Expendables 2,” “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” and “The Magnificent Seven” also directed by Antoine Fuqua.
“The Equalizer” stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Bill Pullman and Melissa Leo. Pascal, known for his short-lived but memorable role in “Game Of Thrones,” is rumored to be the villain of the movie, but so far, he’s absent from the trailer.
“The Equalizer 2” will land in theaters July 20. Watch the trailer below.