Remakes and reboots are the name of the game these days, and the latest example of that trend is The Equalizer. This action-drama franchise revolves around Robert McCall, a former covert agent now living the quiet life. Unfortunately, he sees everyday people around him being victimized by the criminal element. Not content to simply stand by, McCall dedicates himself to helping the downtrodden, putting his special skills to the test in combatting the worst that society has to offer.
Now, CBS has revived the series, albeit with notable changes. Queen Latifah steps up as a gender-swapped version of the title character, and her vigilante exploits may turn out differently (with more explosions) than her predecessor's. Whether you think this is a meaningful expansion or a soulless money-grab, there are a few things you might want to know about it.
8 It's The Third Version
This isn't the first time the Equalizer property has been resurrected. It started as a TV series in 1985. Created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim and starring Edward Woodward as the titular hero, the show ran until 1989.
Fast forward a few decades, and the series jumps to the big screen in 2014. Director Antoine Fuqua brings viewers a day-in-the-life remake and translates the premise to a modern setting. This time, Denzel Washington takes the reins of Robert McCall, and the result is successful enough to get a sequel in 2018 (but not enough to crack his IMDb Top 10). Now, the franchise has returned to its original format as a TV series. Everything comes full circle.
7 It Changes The Character Even Further
The titular Equalizer has transformed radically from one adaptation to the next. This hero's goal has remained the same throughout, but his/her background and appearance have not. In the original, Robert McCall is a former intelligence agent living in New York City. His old employer isn't specified; it's simply referred to as "the company." Despite playing a US G-man, however, Edward Woodward still uses his English accent, indicating international roots.
That's abandoned in the 2014 film, where McCall is a retired DIA officer and former Marine based in Boston. He even goes from Caucasian to African American. Finally, the 2021 series changes the character's name and sex to "Robyn McCall." Returning to the ambiguity of old, not much is known about her background aside from single motherhood.
6 It's Produced By Its Star
As is evident by looking at the credits, Queen Latifah acts as both the titular character and one of the producers of the show. Denzel Washington also did this in the 2014 movie.
Usually, this means that the actor or actress is more personally invested in the project. Stars who produce their work have a stake in the game; it's not just another job to them. They are privy to budgetary and other creative conversations that help get the product off the ground. Some even have their own production companies. In short, The Equalizer is something that Latifah wanted to do, not as a cheap cash-grab, but as a passion project.
5 It's Not Adam Goldberg's First Movie-Turned-TV Show
This character actor plays someone named Harry Keshegian in The Equalizer. Not much is known about this guy or what he does, but what should be known is that this isn't Goldberg's first rodeo as a supporting player in a film-to-TV adaptation.
He previously played hitman Mr. Numbers in Fargo, Noah Hawley's TV expansion of the iconic Coen brothers film. A few years later, he could be seen as Harden Kilroy, a hacker who reluctantly helps the heroes in Taken. The show was a prequel to the trilogy of Liam Neeson action flicks. At a certain point, one wonders if Goldberg deliberately seeks these projects out.
4 It Aired After The Super Bowl
It's no secret that the Super Bowl draws in a huge number of viewers. Not only do (American) football fans tune in, but also those looking for previews of upcoming movies, TV shows, and games.
Naturally, this makes it a golden spot for TV premieres. The Equalizer has scored this golden spot, airing right after the big game on Sunday. Ratings will likely be high as a result. Whether or not the show can maintain those numbers remains to be seen.
3 The Action Director Is An Industry Veteran
Those looking for entertaining stunts in The Equalizer should rest easy. The action director is a seasoned veteran of the craft in various film and TV properties.
Melissa R. Stubbs has been a stunt coordinator and/or double on countless projects, such as the X-Men films, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Inception, Altered Carbon, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's probably safe to say that she knows what she's doing. She's worked extensively on big and small screens, so she knows how to juggle the resources of each one to deliver the best stunts possible. Because of that, the action in this new show will likely be just as accomplished as one would expect, thrilling viewers even on the budgetary constraints of TV.
2 It Doesn't Have The Creator's Stamp Of Approval
Michael Sloan, one of the creators of the 1985 Equalizer series, is not involved in this new show. He's written for numerous projects and produced many more over the years. The latter even includes the two Equalizer films in 2014 and 2018.
On top of that, Sloan has expanded the saga of McCall in book form, writing several Equalizer books about the hero's exploits. The most recent one was released this year. Clearly, this guy is still passionate about the property. The fact that he's not helping with the remake raises serious questions about how faithful this new show will be. Is this another case of the original creator hating what Hollywood does to his/her work?
1 Another Creator Just Died
Richard Lindheim, the other creator of the original show, recently passed away on January 18. He was 81 years old. Although he didn't have a hand in either of the Denzel Washington Equalizer films, he does have an executive producer credit on the new series.
That being said, it's eerie that his death came just a few weeks before this remake. A superstitious person might consider that an omen. However, viewers will just have to wait and see how this loss affects the Equalizer property.