Summary
Denzel Washingtonlost his biggest franchise last year, but he’s failed to replace it, and I’m curious to see how he will. Denzel spent most of his career resisting franchises and sequels, a move that allowed him to consistently make Oscar-caliber films and standalone genre films. Although some of his movies had sequel or prequel opportunities, it wasn’t untilThe Equalizerthat he found his first franchise. His time making thethreeThe Equalizermoviesled to great success, as myself and others contributed to it becoming a $573 million hit series.
Denzel’sEqualizermovies might not be among the best action movies ever made, but they were consistently entertaining and successful. They helped turn him into a bankable action movie star. The success was even so great that discussions aboutThe Equalizer 4considered de-aging Denzel Washingtonfor a prequel. I’m glad that he ruled out another return as Robert McCall, especially using de-aging technology, but he shouldn’t fully retire from action movies. The trilogy ending just means he needs to replaceThe Equalizerwith some new franchise, and I’m really curious how he will do that.
Every Denzel Washington Movie, Ranked Worst To Best
With a career spanning over four decades, Denzel Washington has long become a household name, and here are all of his movies, ranked.
Denzel Washington Doesn’t Have Another Action Franchise After The Equalizer Ended
He Didn’t Plan Ahead
The Equalizer 3’s release in August 2023 brought an end to Denzel’s time with the franchise, so it would have been expected for him to find other projects that could fill this particular void for the coming years. His next movie is a role inGladiator IIas Macrinus, a wealthy arms dealer thatcould put the actor in another villainous role. Denzel also has a new Spike Lee movie upcoming with their remake ofHigh and Low. The actor is even working on a Hannibal the Conqueror movie withThe Equalizerdirector Antoine Fuqua.
Hannibal will be Denzel Washington’s sixth time working with Antoine Fuqua
Each of Denzel Washington’s upcoming movies is quite exciting on its own merits. However, none of them are the type of action movie that he made a habit of starring in withThe Equalizerfranchise.Gladiator IIis bound to have plenty of action, but not with Denzel as the focus. Hannibal the Conqueror could also feature some historical war action, which would be quite different from his time playing Robert McCall. Even if Denzel does get some action scenes in these upcoming projects,none of them lend themselves to becoming franchisesthat could replaceThe Equalizer.
Denzel Washington’s Earlier Action Movies Lack Sequel Options
He Can’t Return To Previous Roles
A lack of upcoming action projects could mean that Denzel Washington looks at his previous movies for potential franchise opportunities. This is something that many of his peers have done, with Will Smith returning toBad Boys, Eddie Murphy returning toBeverly Hills Cop, or Tom Cruise returning toTop Gun. Looking at earlierDenzel Washington action movies, the likes ofThe Book of EliorMan on Fireheld franchise potentialwhen they were first made. The odds of those properties continuing with Denzel now seem lower considering both have reboots in development.
Making sequels to some of Denzel’s previous action movies does not get much easier with his newer titles. His 2013 action movie2 Gunshad sequel potential to pair him with Mark Wahlberg again. The follow-up film never made any progress, and it’s likely been too long now for interest to reignite on the studio front. Other modern films likeSafe HouseorUnstoppablealso would likely have trouble getting sequels or prequels off the ground after so much time has passed. WithDenzel ruling outThe Equalizer 4, his action movie future rests with new franchises.
Many Want Denzel Washington To Appear
Denzel is a popular fan cast for the MCU
If Denzel Washington wants to find a new franchise to replaceThe Equalizer, the biggest one that could come calling is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As of 2018,Denzel confirmed that Marvel Studios has never contacted himabout playing a part. Michael B. Jordan had ideas for him to be in futureBlack Panthermovies, but that has yet to transpire. Whether playing a new version of Kang or tackling a new version of iconic villains like Magneto or Doctor Doom, Denzel is a popular fan cast for the MCU and the type of star the franchise should want.
It is also no secret thatFast & Furiouswants Denzel Washingtonto join the family. He was originally approached to play a villain inFurious 7, but it didn’t work out. Multiple franchise stars have since reiterated their own hopes that Denzel could buckle up for an upcoming installment. WithFast & Furious 11marking an end for the franchise,time is running out for the series to bring Denzel aboard the Fast Sagain a meaningful way. There is still time for it to happen, though, and give Denzel a major new franchise to play a part in.
The MCU andFast & Furiousrepresent two of the bigger options in terms of major franchises that could attract Denzel Washington’s services. But there are also plenty of other possibilities nowadays. If a trueThe Equalizerreplacement is desired,action vehicles likeJohn Wick,Bourne, orMission: Impossiblecould be other alternatives. Sequels in theCreedorDunefranchises could also present him with great opportunities. Meanwhile,Transformers,Jurassic,Planet of the Apes, andStar Warscould always consider adding the megastar.
Why Denzel Washington Needs An Equalizer Replacement
He’s A Genre Star Now
It might not seem like someone as successful and famous as Denzel Washington needs anEqualizerreplacement franchise to remain relevant, but it would be a poor career move not to find one. The three movies helped transform him into an action movie star,making him someone audiences believe as a credible lead in the genreand big enough to draw in crowds consistently. After already becoming known for delivering Oscar-worthy performances in headlining a variety of genres,The Equalizertrilogy showed me and others how fun it is to watch Denzel fight bad guys.
It would be in Denzel’s best interests to find another action movie franchise that can keep delivering these types of films. The MCU,Fast & Furious, and other known IPs would keep him in front of large crowds, but they might not offer the same experience as playing Robert McCall. The established trend ofDenzel headlining an action movie every few years yielded great results, so it would be foolish not to keep doing them. Whether that means finding an original idea or rebooting a TV show again, I hopeDenzel Washingtonfinds hisThe Equalizerreplacement action franchise soon.
