“He’s a working man’s James Bond”: Antoine Fuqua Compares Denzel Washington’s Equalizer 3 to 007 Movies
Denzel Washington’s hit action-thriller series has finally come to an end. With the release of Antoine Fuqua-directed The Equalizer 3, the audience and Washington bid adieu to Robert McCall.
Fuqua and Washington’s chemistry has given five successful films. In an interview, Fuqua revealed that even though The Equalizer franchise has come to an end, the duo is not saying goodbye to each other. The director also reflected on working with Washington, making The Equalizer movies.
The Equalizer is like 007 Movies, says Antoine Fuqua
In conversation with IndieWire, Antoine Fuqua reflected on the journey of making The Equalizer films alongside Denzel Washington. The first film was released in 2014, so this series has spanned nearly a decade. Fuqua said that he knew as early as the first film that he wanted these films to be based in different countries. He compared the franchise with James Bond films, saying:
“After the first one I was like, he’s a working man’s James Bond.”
Fuqua was inspired to make McCall’s story a global affair when he witnessed Washington getting swarmed with his fans in Italy. The director continues by saying that he quickly corresponded with screenwriter Richard Wenk that the movies need to be international, resonating with Washington’s international popularity.
“I talked to [screenwriter] Richard Wenk, I was like, “Listen, he should be in Europe. Denzel’s a huge international star.” I remember being in Italy with Denzel, I believe it was Rome, and the crowd came around him for a whole block, and I couldn’t get out of the way. I was just like, “Get me out of here.” He was in the middle of all these people, and they just they love him here, so I thought it’d be fun to do a film here.”
This is what caused The Equalizer 2 to be set in Istanbul, Turkey, and The Equalizer 3 in Rome, Italy. This final installment delivers the action and thrill just the same as its predecessors.
Robert McCall: Working Man’s James Bond?
Fuqua’s comparison stems from the the common themes of espionage and action in the stories of both the characters’ stories makes them alike. Their background was set similarly, with McCall being a former CIA agent and Bond being a British secret service agent.
They both strive to make the world a better place, even as their motivations are different. Bond is an impeccable spy serving his country while McCall helps unprivileged individuals facing injustice as an act of redemption. There really couldn’t be a truer phrase to describe McCall than what Fuqua used.
The third and final installment of The Equalizer franchise sees McCall finally taking the Mafia down for good in Italy.
The Equalizer 3 is now in theatres.
Source: IndieWire
