Quite the interesting director/star pairing looks to be in the works. A remake of the 1980s crime series The Equalizer has been in development for the past few years, with Denzel Washington most recently signing on to star. Last we heard, Sony was compiling a shortlist of directors for the project, and on that list was Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn. The studio has finally made a decision on who will take the helm of the project, and it is indeed Mr. Refn. Hit the jump for more details, including a release date for Refn’s next film Only God Forgives.
Per Heat Vision, Sony Pictures is in early talks with Refn to direct the Equalizer remake. Apparently things will be moving quickly, as filming scheduled to get underway in late spring in anticipation of an April 11, 2014 release date. The TV series centered on a former covert operations officer who dedicated his life to helping people in trouble on his own accord. While this may sound like slightly familiar territory for Refn, I’m incredibly excited by the prospect of a collaboration between Refn and Washington.
Richard Wenk (The Expendables 2) penned the loosely adapted screenplay, and Washington remains onboard in the starring role. Refn most recently completed his Drive follow-up, Only God Forgives with Ryan Gosling, and THR’s report buries the news that it is set to open on May 23, 2013. He’s also developing the graphic novel adaptation Button Man and a Logan’s Run remake, though Gosling recently left the Logan’s Run project due to a busy schedule.
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Brilliant!!!
The choice of screenwriter for this has me worried though
Huh. I remember reading about this with Russell Crowe attached to the lead. Refn could put an interesting spin on it.
Is it out May 23 in America or Denmark?
Christopher McQuarrie wrote the draft
Loved the James McAdams show from the 80s. Edward Woodward (RIP) was marvelous in the role. Keith Sz(sp) was excellent as Mickey Kostmyer and so was the late Robert Lansing. I love Denzel and I think he will be great as Robert McCall. McCall’s relationship with his estranged son played by William Zabka in the series must be exxplored in the movie, along with the excellent array of background characters such as Mickey mentioned above should be included, too. Many of these supporting characters were former or current CIA operatives who worked w/McCall in the agency. Two other key elements that made the show excellent were the Jaguar and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland who scored the show. I would love to see Stewart do the movie’s music, too. I cannot wait and I would love to see them be successful with this tv series to movie, the way they were with the Fugitive.