"The Equalizer" Movie Gets A Sequel

The Wrap reports that Richard Wenk has inked a deal to write the sequel to Antoine Fuqua's big screen reboot of the 80's TV series "The Equalizer". The first film was also scripted by Wenk, whose credits include the actioners 16 Blocks, with Bruce Willis, and the recent Mechanic remake starring Jason Statham and Ben Foster, and The Expendables 2.

In the movie version, Denzel Washington's McCall is living a quiet life while working at a Home Depot, when one of his acts of kindness toward Teri a prostitute (Chloe Moretz) gets him snared with the Russian mob.

The role for Moretz was originally written for a twenty-something. However, Moretz seemingly left Washington and studio execs very impressed during a chemistry reading with Denzel. As a result, the prostitute character was redrawn with her in mind. Now, it's expected to be closer to something like Jodie Foster's star turn in "Taxi Driver".

Marton Csokas will play a ruthless fixer working for the Russians. Melissa Leo will play McCall’s former counter-terrorism handler who provides him with intelligence about who he is facing when he runs up against a new adversary. David Meunier will play Slavi, a brutal and sleazy Russian pimp of the young prostitute. David Harbour plays a crooked Central Intelligence Agency officer who helps pursue Washington’s character.

Bill Pullman, Haley Bennett, and Vladimir Kulich also star.

Fuqua took the big chair after Rise of the Planet of the Apes helmer Rupert Wyatt left due to scheduling issues. Wyatt came on to the pic after "Drive" director Nicolas Winding Refn left the pic after the deal between Sony Pictures and Refn fell apart at the last minute. Winding Refn beat out the likes of Pierre Morel ("Taken"), Gavin O'Connor ("Warrior") and Gareth Evans ("The Raid") for the gig.

Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Alex Siskin, Mace Neufeld, Tony Eldridge, Michael Sloan (the show’s original co-creator), and Washington produced the film

The film has reportedly been testing "through the roof", in fact a mid-December test screening is said to have earned "the highest scores for an R-rated movie in the studio's history."

Sony is quickly moving here on the sequel so that it has the momentum when the first film hits theaters on September 26th.

Washington's contract did NOT include an option for a sequel, Washington has never made one, but this could well be the first if the first film is as much a success as Sony hopes it is.

Edward Woodward starred in the 85-89 series about Robert McCall, a former operative of a covert intelligence organization who seeks redemption for his dark past via offering his services to those being persecuted and in need of help. McCall brings justice to various baddies, killers, drug dealers, rapists on the streets of New York City. He also performed assignments for the head of his former organization and dealt with his estranged son.