In the riveting culmination of the trilogy The Equalizer 3, the enigmatic life of Robert McCall takes center stage once again. While his mission to aid those in need has provided him a semblance of comfort, it’s clear that violence has left an indelible mark on his identity, and that can’t endure indefinitely. Denzel Washington, reprising his signature role, delves into McCall’s internal struggles, stating, “He’s grappling with his inner demons. This film distinguishes itself from the first two by delving into a more personal narrative. It’s about his redemption and the art of letting go.”
“He’s going through an internal battle,” says Antoine Fuqua, who returns to direct the third film in the trilogy and fifth overall with Washington. “He’s helping those who can’t help themselves, handing out justice his way to evil people. But he’s questioning himself. Has he gone too far? Is he enjoying it too much? Is he still doing it for the right reasons?”
Producers Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal say that the reason that The Equalizer franchise has resonated so strongly with audiences is that it echoes with who Washington is in real life – minus the violence. “Robert McCall is able to take care of good people who can’t take care of themselves,” they say. “Denzel, as a human being, really believes in mission-oriented goals… I think it’s the same thing here with Robert McCall – he uses his powers to serve good. He, as both Denzel and as Robert McCall, are going to make sure that the good people are protected. The fun of it is tracking them down – he gives them all an opportunity to stop what they’re doing, and they don’t, and so he has to become the Equalizer.”
The trouble for McCall, says Washington, is that he’s become a little too enamored by that idea – to his peril. “He has gotten addicted to this so-called ‘justice’ and crossed the line into unnecessary violence,” adds Washington. “He pays a price. And he has to deal with himself, and rely on others, and break out of his patterns, or he will die. Through that, hopefully, he finds peace.”
“What I wanted to explore was a man on the verge,” Fuqua continues. “McCall is on the verge of a question – what else does he have to live for? His wife is gone; Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo) is gone. It seems like he does the right thing, but he’s constantly punished. And so I think he’s on the verge, and he has to think about what he’s going to do with his life.”
The Equalizer 3 brings Robert McCall abroad for the first time. “The plan was always that the third film would go overseas,” says screenwriter Richard Wenk. “I had never been to Italy, but I knew that Denzel spends a lot of time there. So, during the pandemic, I did a lot of research. I thought that Italy would be the place that McCall might end up finding a place for himself.”
The Equalizer 3, also starring Dakota Fanning, opens in Philippine cinemas September 13.
**The interviews for this article were done before the writers and actors strikes.**
About The Equalizer 3
Following his departure from the realm of government assassination, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) grapples with reconciling his haunting past. Discovering a semblance of solace in rendering justice on behalf of the downtrodden, he finds himself unexpectedly at home in Southern Italy. However, he stumbles upon the plight of his newfound friends, ensnared by local crime syndicates. In the face of escalating danger, McCall embraces his duty: to shield his friends by taking on the mafia.
Helmed by director Antoine Fuqua and penned by Richard Wenk, inspired by the TV series by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim.
The film boasts a cast led by Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, David Denman, and Gaia Scodellaro.
Arriving in cinemas on September 13, The Equalizer 3 receives its Philippine distribution through Columbia Pictures, a local arm of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Join the conversation with #TheEqualizer3.
Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”
