Sony Pictures has released the first trailer forThe Equalizer 2, the long-awaited follow-up to 2014’sThe Equalizer, which hits theaters this summer.Denzel Washingtonreturns to reprise his role as Robert McCall from the original movie, which itself was a theatrical remake of the 1980s hit TV series starring Edward Woodward. As you can see in this new footage, McCall is back with a vengeance, and this time around, he has some new enemies.
Denzel Washington returns to one of hissignature roles in the first sequel of his career.Robert McCallserves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves? Pedro Pascal ofNarcosandGame of Thronesfame joins the cast as the new villain, with Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman reprising their roles from the first movie as Susan and Brian Plummer. Chloe Moretz, who played the young Teri in the original movie, will not be returning for the sequel.
The creative team behind the firstEqualizermovie remains intact, though, with Antoine Fuqua returning to direct from a script by Richard Wenk, based on characters created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim, who created the original TV series. The originalEqualizermovie, which debuted in the fall of 2014, fared quite well at the box office, taking in $101.5 million domestically and $90.8 million from international markets for a worldwide total of $192.3 million, from just a $55 million budget.
While no budget numbers were given forThe Equalizer 2, Sony seems ratherconfident in this sequel, considering the studio shifted the movie from an August 3 release date to July 20,smack dab in the heart of the summer movie season. As of now, its only competition is Universal’s musical sequelMamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again, but it arrives a week before Sony Animation’sHotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacationand Universal’sSkyscraper, and a week before Paramount’sMission: Impossible - Falloutand Warner Bros.‘Teen Titans Go! To The Movies.
If it would have stayed put in its August 3 date, it would be the sixth wide release to open in that frame, going up against 20th Century Fox’sThe Darkest Mindsstarring Mandy Moore, Disney’sChristopher Robinstarring Ewan McGregor and Hayley Atwell, STX Entertainment’sMile 22starring Mark Wahlberg, John Malkovich and Ronda Rousey, Sony’sSearchingstarring John Cho and Debra Messing and Lionsgate’sThe Spy Who Dumped Mestarring Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis. Given how jam-packed this August 3 frame has become, it was certainly wise of Sony to pushThe Equalizer 2back a few weeks, although there will certainly be no shortage of competition in its July date, which also comes just two weeks after Marvel’s third movie of the year,Ant-Man and the Wasp. Along with this new trailer, courtesy ofSony Pictures YouTube, you may take a look at the poster and photos that debuted yesterday.
