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Robert McCall is about to come out of retirement once again as The Equalizer 3 is set to release on September 1, 2023. The Equalizer 3 will see Denzel Washington return as McCall, a retired U.S. Marine and former officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency. The Equalizer 2 was released in 2018, so there’s a good chance that you might have forgotten exactly what you’re getting into with The Equalizer 3, or perhaps you’re entirely new to the series. So, here’s everything you should know about The Equalizer franchise.
Everything You Should Know About the Equalizer Franchise
If you are completely unfamiliar with The Equalizer movies, it is worth noting that they are based on the 1985 television series of the same name. It isn’t necessary to watch the series to understand the movies, as they are more of a reboot than a continuation of the story from the show. Surprisingly, you also probably don’t need to watch the first two movies to watch the upcoming film either, as they both have contained stories, and it doesn’t seem like they will connect to the third one much.
But, if you do want to know everything you should know about The Equalizer franchise, you probably should check out the first two movies. The first one was released in 2014 and saw McCall go up against a Russian organized crime syndicate after finding out that they had beaten a teenage prostitute named Alina (Chloë Grace Moretz) he would see in a diner that he frequents. After finding and killing the local members, the larger organization comes after him, and he takes out every single one expertly. The Equalizer 2 starts with Robert McCall going on more missions of morality before he embarks on his own vendetta. The real mission in the second installment kicks off after his former colleague Susan (Melissa Leo) is assassinated and Robert hunts down the people who killed her.
Just like the first two installments, The Equalizer 3 has been directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Richard Wenk. Most of the franchise takes place in Boston, but the third installment takes place in Italy, with McCall looking to peacefully retire. Unfortunately, the Sicilian Mafia causes some local trouble, and being the hero he is, McCall steps up to fight against them. Dakota Fanning also stars, marking this her and Washington’s first collaboration since Man on Fire.
The Equalizer 3 Will Be the Last Installment
If you want to know everything you should know about The Equalizer, you should go into the third movie knowing that it might be the last installment. Back in April, Sony tweeted out a poster for the upcoming film, stating “Denzel Washington is back as Robert McCall in the final chapter of The Equalizer.” As such, it’s hard not to believe that this will be the last movie in a trilogy, especially because Washington’s almost 70 years old.
Both Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington have confirmed that it will be the last installment, speaking to Empire earlier this month. Fuqua said, “This is it,” while Washington suggested that it “seems to be a good place to stop.” But that doesn’t mean that this will be the last of The Equalizer for good. There is still The Equalizer TV series which is not connected to the movies, and stars Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall. The show has been renewed for a fourth season. Then there is the possibility of another reboot, to take The Equalizer movies in a new direction.
But it might be best to hold off on any hopes of a reboot, as this trilogy seems to be a vehicle for Washington specifically. As for Robert McCall, we’ll know how his story ends when The Equalizer 3 arrives in theaters on September 1, 2023.
