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.
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. 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. Vladimir Kulich ("The 13th Warrior") plays a Russian oligarch who funds an international black market enterprise.
Fuqua says: "There's a switch that (Washington) turns on and that's just scary. There's a sustained intensity even in casual mode, like a panther. If it's turned against you, you're going to be in a bad place."
Surprisingly, Washington admits that he "didn't really watch" the TV show and so wasn't drawn to the film because of its small screen origins-instead it was Fuqua and the script that convinced him:
"The title doesn't mean anything to me. It's the material. It's a classic story, the innocent girl and the guy coming in to save the day and kick some butt."
59-year-old Washington body trains every day and can still "bring it" physically. As a result, Fuqua limited his use of guns in the movie thinking that it may diminish Washington's performance:
"His hand-to-hand work is pretty nasty when the monster comes out. We used what was around him. You'd be surprised what he can do with a corkscrew. You'll never open a bottle of wine the same way again."
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 is being redrawn with her in mind. Now, it's expected to be closer to something like Jodie Foster's star turn in "Taxi Driver".
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 and Refn fell apart at the last minute back in January. Fuqua's next pic is supposed to be the boxing film "Southpaw" which is to begin production at the end of the Summer with casting talk underway.
Budgeted at a lean $50 million, the project is being seen as a potential franchise launcher. Winding Refn beat out the likes of Pierre Morel ("Taken"), Gavin O'Connor ("Warrior") and Gareth Evans ("The Raid") for the gig.
The film was scripted by Richard 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. Wenk is already at work writing a sequel to this film.
Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Alex Siskin, Mace Neufeld, Tony Eldridge, Michael Sloan (the show’s original co-creator), and Washington are gonna produce.
The film hits theaters on Sept 26, 2014.
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