Director Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington on the set of ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo by: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi.
Preview:
Denzel Washington is attached to star in a new film about Hannibal.
It’ll see him re-team with ‘Equalizer’ director Antoine Fuqua.
Netflix is behind the new movie.
With the SAG-AFTRA strike now over (at least pending a vote of the membership), various companies are looking to attach actors to new projects and start generating some buzz around them.
One example is Netflix, which has a new historical epic in the works about Carthaginian general Hannibal, and the streaming service has Denzel Washington in line to star.
Per Deadline, the new movie would mark a reunion for the actor with director Antoine Fuqua, the two used to collaborating on various projects.
What Would the New Hannibal Movie Cover?
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
For those who don’t know the history, Hannibal came over the Alps and attacked Rome from the North, at the time posing the greatest threat to the republic. He was a skilled military tactician who led the troops in what is now Tunisia, not far from Sicily.
His victories during the Second Punic War are legend, and this version of the film will follow the pivotal battles Hannibal led against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War.
Denzel Washington stars as Robert McCall in Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo by: Stefano Montesi.
This is actually not the first time that Washington has been linked to a Hannibal project. Back in 2002, inspired by the success of ‘Gladiator’, 20th Century Fox (as it was then named) developed a Hannibal film and looked to attach Washington to play the famous leader.
At the time, Washington passed on the idea, since it would’ve meant too much time away from his family. But now, with his kids (including actor John David Washington), well established in life, he’s free to spend his time riding elephants and battling Romans.
He may still have competition though –– Vin Diesel has long been obsessed with Hannibal and has wanted to develop a movie about him to star in for almost as long.
Netflix’s version has John Logan –– who wrote ‘Gladiator’ –– aboard to craft the script, so it’s clear the company is looking to go all in on this one. And talking of that Ridley Scott-directed historical epic, Washington is heading back to work on the sequel, which Scott was busy making before the strike hit. ‘Gladiator 2’, depending on how quickly it can be finished, may still arrive in 2024.
What Have Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua Worked on Together?
(L to R) Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua and on the set of ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi.
If it all comes to pass, the Hannibal film will mark the sixth time that Washington and Fuqua have collaborated.
They previously teamed for 2001’s ‘Training Day’, for which Washington won a Lead Actor Oscar. That was followed by the first ‘Equalizer’ movie in 2014 and then 2016’s Western remake ‘The Magnificent Seven’.
The last time we saw Robert McCall was in ‘The Equalizer 2,’ facing off against former DIA colleagues Dave York (Pedro Pascal), Kovak, Ari, and Resnik in the midst of a hurricane. McCall realized that he could have walked down the same path of crime but instead chose forgiveness. In the most recent film, Robert McCall has moved to Southern Italy in an attempt to leave his past behind.
Where Can I Watch ‘The Equalizer 3’?
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
‘The Equalizer 3’ was released domestically on September 1, 2023, and is available in standard formats as well as in IMAX. Currently, the movie is still playing in theaters if you want a chance to experience it on the big screen. ‘The Equalizer 3’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes
Watch the official trailer for ‘The Equalizer 3’ below:
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The movie was released on digital on October 6 and is available for purchase for $24.99 or rent for $19.99 on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, YouTube, and Google Play. No date has been released as to when the movie will arrive on streaming.
Fans can also look forward to 4K UHD, Blu-Ray, and DVD release for the film. While no dates have been announced for the Blu-Ray/DVD release, retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon have the movie listed for pre-order. There will be a steelbook edition as a Best Buy exclusive. Bonus features for the physical release include:
Blood Brothers – The collaboration of Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua.
Denzel Washington stars as Robert McCall in Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo by: Stefano Montesi.
Although the movie was just released on September 1st, it is already available on digital. Timed with the digital release, the first ten minutes of the film is available for free on IGN’s website. Opening on a Sicilian vineyard, where McCall has already left a path of dead henchmen along the path of the driveway and inside the building. As Lorenzo Vitale ventures inside, he finds Robert sitting calmly on a chair at gunpoint.
“You took something that didn’t belong to you, I’m here to take it back,” McCall says before he hops into action, effortlessly taking down everyone in the room. Critics and audiences reacted positively to the film, garnering it a 75% critics score and a 94% audience score.
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
“Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.”
Who Is In The Cast of ‘The Equalizer 3’?
Emma (Dakota Fanning) reports to Frank what is happening in Italy in Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
To watch our exclusive interview with Antoine Fuqua, as well as interviews with Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning about ‘The Equalizer 3,’ please click on the video player below.
Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) moves to Southern Italy to escape from his past, but later discovers that his new friends are under the control of the Sicilian Mafia. With the help of a young CIA agent (Dakota Fanning), Robert unleashes his past self to protect his new friends.
Denzel Washington stars as Robert McCall in Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo by: Stefano Montesi.
Against all odds ‘The Equalizer’ franchise has become one of the most reliable action series in cinema, right up there with the ‘John Wick’ movies, and the third chapter does not disappoint. Director Antoine Fuqua adds a new tone by taking Robert McCall’s story to Italy, which breathes fresh life into the franchise without ever betraying the spirit of the popular protagonist. Denzel Washington has truly created one of his most memorable characters with McCall, and has unforgettable onscreen chemistry with co-star Dakota Fanning, reuniting with the actress for the first time since their work on the 2004 now-classic ‘Man on Fire.’
Story and Direction
(L to R) Denzel Washington and Director Antoine Fuqua between takes while filming in the Amalfi Coast on the set of Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo by: Stefano Montesi.
The original ‘The Equalizer’ loosely adapted the 80’s TV series by introducing us to Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a retired CIA operative trying to live a quiet life in Boston. When outside forces threaten the small community he has created, McCall strikes back raining fire and vengeance down upon them. By the end of the first film, McCall has decided to put his skills to use helping those that can’t help themselves, which was the basic plot of the original TV series.
‘The Equalizer 2’ saw McCall in Boston making good on his promise from the first film and helping the unfortunate. But when his close friend and former CIA colleague Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo) is murdered by McCall’s former partner Dave York (Pedro Pascal), McCall releases a personal vendetta on York and his former team members.
In ‘The Equalizer 3,’ we meet an older McCall, tired from his revenge-for-hire business, on a mission in Italy to right another wrong for an American family that lost their savings to an international gangster with terrorist ties. After an injury, McCall is taken to a small Italian town and nursed back to health by a local doctor named Enzo (Remo Girone). McCall soon comes to love the town and the people in it, including a waitress named Aminah (Gaia Scodellaro), who McCall has affection for. But when the town and its people are threatened by the same family of mobsters that McCall was trying to stop in the first place, he vows to take them all down one by one to save the town and protect its people. In order to do that, he enlists the help of a CIA agent named Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning), who unbeknownst to her, has a secret connection to McCall in her past.
(L to R) Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua and on the set of ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi.
As action-packed as ‘The Equalizer’ franchise is, and as much as we all love seeing Denzel Washington systematically killing bad guys, the series is really a character study, and that has never been more apparent than in ‘Equalizer 3.’ By putting McCall in a new and foreign setting to him, it allows director Antoine Fuqua to slow the action just a bit and really explore what years of violence has done to this man that we’ve grown to love over the course of the previous films. It also doesn’t hurt that the character is portrayed by one of the most beloved actors of all time, who brings all that love and grace with him to the role, but more on that in a minute.
Fuqua wisely opens the movie with a fantastic action sequence, which was featured in the trailer and sets the pace for the film before slowing it down to explore McCall’s state of mind to great effect. While some might just be waiting for the next action sequence, they will end up captivated by McCall’s journey, meeting the town’s people and watching him find a feeling of home in this town, which will give him his motivation for the explosive second half of the film.
There is a comparison to be made between Fuqua and Washington’s collaborations and those of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. In addition to ‘The Equalizer’ franchise, Fuqua and Washington have made together the Oscar-winning ‘Training Day’ and the western remake ‘The Magnificent Seven.’ The director and actor clearly have a strong shorthand together that works, as it does here again with this film.
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Denzel’s Performance
Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) watches Vincent crawl down his stairs in Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
There is no arguing that Denzel Washington is one of the greatest screen actors of all time. His body of work speaks volumes, so I won’t bother listing them all as everyone knows his resume. But in this modern age of superhero movies, a serious actor like Denzel could easily have slipped away from making box office hits but instead has embraced a franchise based on an old TV show and has turned McCall into his own version of a modern day superhero by infusing the character with his real-life integrity and gravitas. We root for McCall because we love Denzel, and we love seeing him … as the actor has said publicly, “get the guys we can’t get.”
Washington takes the opportunity in ‘Equalizer 3,’ to really explore his character’s emotions in an authentic way that the franchise has not had a chance to do previously, while never really jeopardizing the pace or the action. After four films together Washington clearly trusts Fuqua, and it shows in his performance in this movie, as Robert McCall has truly become one of Washington’s signature characters.
‘Man on Fire’ Reunion
Emma (Dakota Fanning) reports to Frank what is happening in Italy in Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
But one of the best parts of ‘The Equalizer 3’ is seeing the ‘Man on Fire’ reunion between actress Dakota Fanning and Washington. ‘Man on Fire’ is a 2004 Tony Scott classic, and one of the best films of Washington’s long and respected career. Fanning starred opposite Washington when she was just 10 years old and the two actor’s chemistry together in that movie was unforgettable … seriously, you should watch it if you haven’t! So, seeing Dakota and Denzel together again was a real treat, and their chemistry together is as good now as it ever was. Washington clearly has a lot of affection for Fanning, and that plays well with their character’s secret connection. Fanning is also believable as a young CIA agent, and the movie benefits from her presence.
Misfires
Vincent (Andrea Scarduzio, right) comes to the church to see his brother Marco (Andrea Dodero) in Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
While the movie is thoroughly enjoyable, both through its action-sequences and its performances, it does lag a bit in the first act, after the cold open action scene. The scenes are still enjoyable, and it establishes McCall’s connection to his new community for what is to come, but some viewers looking for non-stop action, may find these sequences tedious.
The movie also lacks any original villains, and instead gives us generic Italian mafia bad guys. The first film at least established a ‘Die Hard’ Hans Gruber-type villain in Marton Csokas’ assassin Nicolai Itchenko, and the second movie had a personal antagonist in Pedro Pascal’s Dave York. In ‘The Equalizer 3’ we are given Andrea Scarduzio’s Vincent Quaranta, a spoiled narcissist with delusions of grandeur, who could easily be swapped into any James Bond or John Wick movie as the generic villain and has no real emotional to the story.
Will there be an ‘Equalizer 4’?
(L to R) Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington on the set of ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi.
That’s hard to say, but neither Fuqua or Washington have said they wouldn’t be interested, and the movie certainly leaves the possibility for more stories featuring Washington’s version of Robert McCall. And now that Fanning’s Emma Collins has been established, she could make a great ally for McCall moving forward.
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
‘The Equalizer 3’ is a worthy addition to the extremely enjoyable ‘Equalizer’ franchise and Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua have recaptured the magic of the previous films while expanding on the emotional journey of the title character. Dakota Fanning is a delightful addition to the franchise, and seeing her reunite with Washington is a true treat for fans of the classic ‘Man on Fire.’
‘The Equalizer 3’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) moves to Southern Italy to escape from his past, but later discovers that his new friends are under the control of the Sicilian Mafia. With the help of a young CIA agent (Dakota Fanning), Robert unleashes his past self to protect his new friends.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Antoine Fuqua about his work on ‘The Equalizer 3,’ what audiences should expect from the new movie, why this chapter takes place in Italy, reuniting Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington, how his relationship with Denzel has grown over the years, and why audiences love Washington as Robert McCall.
‘The Equalizer 3’ director Antoine Fuqua.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our exclusive interview with Fuqua, as well as interviews with Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning that took place before the SAG/AFTRA Strike.
Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to fans of this franchise sitting down right now to watch the third installment to prepare them for the theatrical experience they are about to have?
Antoine Fuqua: Be prepared for McCall’s final masterpiece of not only just violence, but finding a home for himself in a spectacular setting.
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
MF: Why did you decide to take Robert McCall’s story to Italy for this movie?
AF: Myself, the writer and the producers have always wanted to take Robert McCall international. In my mind, in his other life, he probably lived in many different places in the world. So Italy just felt natural, because Denzel goes there quite a bit and as well as myself. I wanted a place that he felt at home and comfortable and knew the language. So, the Amalfi Coast, of course, not only is it ideal, it’s just beautiful. This place, Atrani, where we filmed, is so old world, you feel like you’ve been transported back in time, and that was important to us.
(L to R) Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua and on the set of ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi.
MF: Obviously, you worked with Denzel Washington previously on ‘Training Day,’ but how has your friendship and your working relationship grown and changed through the course of making these three ‘Equalizer’ movies?
AF: I mean, the friendship remains the same. We’ve been friends. Our family, we know each other that way. Business wise and director-actor, it’s always been a mutual respect. Denzel has total trust in me, and of course, I have total trust in Mr. Washington. He’s never come over to look at the monitor or come to the editing bay or anything like that. He completely trusts what I do and I trust what he does, and that’s been our relationship. He knows I’m going to come to work to handle business, and I know he is. You know he’s coming, so I better be ready.
(L to R) Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington on the set of ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi.
MF: Can you talk about reuniting Dakota Fanning with Denzel Washington so many years after ‘Man on Fire,’ and the incredible onscreen chemistry they still have together in ‘The Equalizer 3’?
AF: It’s incredible. I mean, what an opportunity. It just doesn’t happen that often where you see a young actor or actress grow up in front of you, and see an icon like Mr. Washington in a role together. Then have the opportunity to do it again later in life in something like this. So when I got the call from Todd Black that Dakota was interested, I said, “I got to meet her right now for lunch, today.” So we met. I fell in love with her, of course. I didn’t tell Denzel I was meeting with her. I wanted to make sure she really wanted to do it. Then I called Denzel, I said, “I met with Dakota. She wants to do it.” He was like, “Absolutely.” He loved Dakota. He lit up. So I was like, “Amazing.” So every day when I was filming them, he would turn to me sometimes and smile and go like, “She’s a grownup now.” He would just laugh about it. So it was like a father-daughter relationship. Really sweet.
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
MF: Finally, what do you think it is about this franchise, and particularly Denzel Washington’s performance as Robert McCall that resonates so much with audiences?
AF: I think the audience resonated with him, because he’s a common man. There’s nothing fancy about him, and he’s all about helping others without recognition. He doesn’t do it for money or anything. It’s sort of a throwback to (Akira) Kurasawa, which is one of my heroes. Like the ‘Seven Samurai,’ you’re going to go help a village for a bowl of rice. Getting back to that was an important message to put out into the world. Denzel, just being a great actor and being the great person who he is, there’s no Robert McCall without Denzel Washington. So he brings all of himself to that character, and that’s why it works.
(L to R) Denzel Washington and Director Antoine Fuqua between takes while filming in the Amalfi Coast on the set of Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo by: Stefano Montesi.
(L to R) Denzel Washington and Director Antoine Fuqua between takes while filming in the Amalfi Coast on the set of Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo by: Stefano Montesi.
Denzel Washington will shoot back to our screens next month as government assassin-turned-do-gooding crusader Robert McCall in ‘The Equalizer 3’.
And while it could end up being the final outing (though nothing has been said) for McCall in his present form, director Antoine Fuqua is already thinking of an idea for an ‘Equalizer’ prequel which would use de-aging technology so Washington can star as a younger version of the character.
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What has Fuqua said about an ‘Equalizer’ prequel?
Director Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington on the set of ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo by: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi.
“I definitely thought about it a lot. Especially now with the new technology and the AI and all of that kind of stuff… Is there a story to be told about how [McCall] became this person — the younger version. I’ve had that conversation with [‘Equalizer’ screenwriter] Richard Wenk quite a bit.”
But don’t go booking your tickets to ‘The Equalizer: Young McCall’ just yet. Right now, it’s still only in Fuqua’s mind and he has yet to sound out Washington on the concept, which has been most recently deployed in the opening sequence of ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’, winding back the clock to show Harrison Ford looking like he did circa ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’.
As he explains:
“I haven’t talked to Denzel about that yet. It’s all so fresh and new. I’m still watching [the technology]. I’ve watched Harrison Ford’s film and I know there’s other movies coming out. I think Sony has one coming out with Tom Hanks soon [Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Here’]. And I’m hearing the technology is getting better and better and better. So, I’m kind of watching it to see where it goes.”
The notion of using AI and CG to de-age actors has been a controversial one; beyond the wider argument about AI and its impact on performers (which is a key point in the current SAG-AFTRA strike, it has been seen as a hit-and-miss idea.
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What’s the story of ‘The Equalizer 3?
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed.
Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.
“The first film was about [McCall] finding a purpose. And it’s very external, right? He’s helping people. The second one is more about making peace with his past. He’s betrayed by his friends and [his colleague] dies and his wife has passed away… And then this one is more of a moral dilemma because he’s a darker character… He’s struggling with the violence and brutality.”
‘The Equalizer 3’ is in theaters on September 1.
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo: Stefano Montesi.
(L to R) Shioli Kutsuna as Yukio and Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead in ‘Deadpool 2.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox.
With the cameras now reportedly rolling on the third ‘Deadpool’, director Shawn Levy has been busy gathering the cast he needs to surround Ryan Reynolds’ titular Merc With A Mouth, who also goes by the name Wade Wilson.
Some are new recruits –– ‘The Crown’s Emma Corrin, for example is reportedly playing one of the movie’s main villains, while ‘Succession’sMatthew Macfadyen is also aboard in an unknown capacity (we could see him being a Weasley character of some sort, though he might want to do something different after years of Tom Wambsgams).
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And the headliner, of course, is Hugh Jackman, who after two films (and years of a fake rivalry with his good friend Reynolds) is bringing Wolverine to both the ‘Deadpool’ franchise and the MCU (since the new movie will be overseen by producer Kevin Feige and counted as part of the sprawling superhero universe for the first time).
Hildebrand has played sullen, sarcastic teen X-Men hero Negasonic Teenage Warhead (who has the ability to generate nuclear explosions) since the original, while Kutsuna joined in the second as her girlfriend, the cheery Japanese mutant ninja Yukio.
(L to R) Shioli Kutsuna as Yukio and Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead in ‘Deadpool 2.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox.
Alongside Hildebrand and Kutsuna, many of the movies’ veteran characters are coming back. Morena Baccarin, who plays the main character’s great love, Vanessa, will return (thanks to some convenient time-travel shenanigans that retconned her character’s death at the start of the second movie). Karan Soni is once again playing humble, nervous taxi driver Dopinder, while Leslie Uggams will be the sardonic Blind Al, Wade’s roommate. And we’ll also see more from stoic, metallic X-Men member Colossus, brought to life via performance capture and CGI by Stefan Kapicic.
Those have all been with the franchise since the original. Joining from ‘Deadpool 2’ is Peter (Rob Delaney) the unassuming human who stumbled into Wade’s auditions for his X-Force team and somehow ended up joining the group. Though Peter ended up dying like (most of) the rest of the ill-fated squad, Wade also used time travel to save him at the end of the movie.
(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman discuss Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool 3.’ Photo courtesy of Ryan Reynolds YouTube channel.
What will ‘Deadpool 3’ be about?
So far, director Shawn Levy, who collaborated with regular writers Reynolds, Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese and new recruit Zeb Wells, has not said explicitly what the storyline will be.
Yet we know from comments that Jackman in particular has made, that we can expect Wolverine and Deadpool to butt heads (probably literally at several points), and there will of course be knowing nudges at Wade’s new superhero reality –– we’d be shocked if there aren’t at least cameos from one or two MCU characters.
‘Deadpool 3’ is currently targeting a November 8th, 2024, release date.
Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine in Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool 3.’
In other news, Ridley Scott is rounding out the cast for his long-anticipated sequel ‘Gladiator 2’ –– but he’s been required to make a change as he does.
Hechinger’s casting is just the latest piece of news on the film, and he’s part of an eclectic group of fresh additions to the movie.
Also new this time? ‘Moon Knight’ breakout May Calamawy, who was picked after an extensive audition process and is apparently a key character in the movie.
Besides her, Lior Raz, Peter Mensah (no stranger to gladiators after appearing on Starz series ‘Spartacus’ as Doctore) and Matt Lucas are all playing new characters. Plus, Derek Jacobi, who played Senator Gracchus in the original movie, will be reprising the role in the sequel.
Nielsen, of course is another returning veteran of the originally, and she’ll be reprising the role of Lucilla, mother to Lucius, played as a boy by Spencer Treat Clark in the original and now by ‘Aftersun’s Paul Mescal.
And there has been chatter that Djimon Hounsou, Juba from the original, will be back for this one.
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How does the sequel continue the story of ‘Gladiator’?
You’ll recall that the 2000 original saw Russell Crowe as Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the scheming Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) who killed his father the emperor and seized power.
While Maximus isn’t likely to show up –– short of CG-enhanced flashbacks since the character died in the original and went to a lush heavenly zone to reunite with his slaughtered family –– the story for the new movie, written by David Scarpa, sets the clock forward by several years.
In addition to being Lucilla’s son, he was the nephew of Commodus. Maximus saved Lucius and Lucilla while avenging his own family and left a strong impression on the young boy.
Quite what Lucius is up to in the new film remains to be seen, but there’s a chance he’ll be ending up in the arena himself, especially since Mescal has reportedly been training for the role.
Knowing Scott’s current prolific output, there’s every chance he’ll be hopping on to a different film as soon as ‘Gladiator 2’ is in good shape. He already has ‘Napoleon’ (a reunion with Phoenix) due in theaters on November 22nd this year.
‘Gladiator 2’, meanwhile, has earmarked the same date –– November 22nd but for next year.
(Right) Russell Crowe in director Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator.’
Pedro Pascal in ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.’ Photo: Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate.
Like a general assembling an army, Ridley Scott has been busy gathering the acting troops he needs for his ‘Gladiator’ sequel. And the latest recruit is someone who already has quite the pop cultural cache. Pedro Pascal, currently best known for ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Last of Us’, is now aboard the movie.
He’s just the latest name to sign up for the much anticipated (and long gestating) epic, which will continue the story Scott began in the 2000 original, albeit with a different character.
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What do we know about the ‘Gladiator’ sequel so far?
The original, of course, told the story of Roman General Maximus (played by Russell Crowe), betrayed by his rulers and thrown into life as a gladiator. But even as he fights for his life, he ends up getting revenge on those who wronged him.
As for the sequel, it’ll shift the story forward to focus on Lucius.
He, you may recall, was the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, who is returning for the sequel) and the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius who murdered his father and seized the throne. Commodus wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus who, though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great. Maximus saved the Lucius and Lucilla while avenging his own family and left a strong impression on the young boy.
‘Aftersun’s Paul Mescal is starring as the adult Lucius, while ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’s Barry Keoghan, meanwhile, is playing the primary antagonist, Roman Emperor Geta (a fictional take on a real-life ruler). We can certainly see Keoghan as a Commodus-style troublemaker.
And that’s without mentioning the other big star draw for the new movie –– ‘Gladiator 2’ also marks Scott’s reunion with ‘American Gangster’s Denzel Washington, though again his role is being kept quiet beyond it being described as “bad-ass”.
More recently, ‘Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn also joined the movie in an unknown role, and Djimon Hounsou is expected to return as Juba, a gladiator who befriended Maximus.
As for Pascal? His part, according to Deadline, remains a mystery for now. But we are wary of him being anywhere near arenas of conflict after what happened to his character Oberyn Martell in ‘Game of Thrones’. We won’t go into major spoilers in case you’re still catching up on the show (even if it finished in 2019, but to sum up… ouch).
Scott has the original movie’s costume designer Janty Yates and production designer Arthur Max, along with cinematographer John Mathieson, and the cameras are rolling.
Paramount is aiming to have this on in theaters on November 22nd, 2024.
Russell Crowe in ‘Gladiator.’ Photo by Karine Weinberger/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.
Ridley Scott’s plans for his ‘Gladiator’ follow-up just keep getting more and more interesting. Especially in terms of the casting, which is blending rising stars with established names.
And the latest update? Deadline reports that Connie Nielsen is heading back to Ancient Rome to reprise the role of Lucilla, while ‘Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn is joining her to play a character new to the story, that of Caracalla.
The original film, of course, followed Roman general Maximus (Russell Crowe), who is betrayed by the sniveling, corrupt Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and ends up in the gladiatorial games, from where he plots his revenge for the murder of his family.
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What is the story of ‘Gladiator 2’?
Little is known about the plot for the movie so far as Scott is keeping his cards close to his chest.
But here’s what we know so far…
Crowe has already said he’s not in the new movie, and that makes sense: short of CG-enhanced flashbacks, it’s unlikely, since the character died in the original and went to a lush heavenly zone to reunite with his slaughtered family The story, instead, spins the clock forward a few years and follows ‘Aftersun’ star Paul Mescal as Lucius.
He, you may recall, was the son of Lucilla and the nephew of Commodus, the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius who murdered his father and seized the throne. Commodus wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus who, though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great. Maximus saved the Lucius and Lucilla while avenging his own family and left a strong impression on the young boy.
Quite what Lucius is up to in the new film remains to be seen, but there’s a chance he’ll be ending up in the arena himself, especially since Mescal has reportedly been training for the role.
‘The Banshees of Inisherin’s Barry Keoghan, meanwhile, is apparently playing the primary antagonist, Roman Emperor Geta (a fictional take on a real-life ruler). We can certainly see Keoghan as a Commodus-style troublemaker.
As for Quinn’s character, he’s a mystery for now, so we don’t know if he’ll be a heroic leader or a villainous schemer. Or both!
And that’s without mentioning the other big star draw for the new movie –– ‘Gladiator 2’ also marks Scott’s reunion with ‘American Gangster’s Denzel Washington, though again his role is being kept quiet beyond it being described as “bad-ass”. Seems fitting…
Scott has the original movie’s costume designer Janty Yates and production designer Arthur Max, along with cinematographer John Mathieson. Filming should be kicking off shortly, if it hasn’t already –– after all, the director probably has three more movies lined up to make this year on his current prolific run.
He already has ‘Napoleon’ (coincidentally starring Joaquin Phoenix) due in theaters on November 22nd ahead of streaming on Apple TV+.
(Right) Russell Crowe in director Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator.’
Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
With audiences returning to theaters properly and box office returns climbing out of the trough of COVID, it was only natural that studio bosses were going to be bullish at this year’s CinemaCon event in Las Vegas.
First out of the gate this time was Sony, whose chairman Tom Rothman was in an upbeat, triumphant mood. “For the past three years, as the punditocracy pissed on your business, we at Sony held fast,” Rothman boasted. “We are the only studio that held entirely to theatrical. We were sure that movies in theaters would not only survive but triumph. Well, whaddaya know?”
Sony remains on the theatrical train, with several big releases planned.
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‘The Equalizer 3’
Among the biggest is ‘The Equalizer 3’, which represents that unusual franchise where the star –– in this case, Denzel Washington –– is actually bigger than the property. In an age of superheroes and ‘Star Wars’ selling seats, he’s an outlier.
The studio had Washington and co-star Dakota Fanning on stage to thank cinema executives for their support and, perhaps more crucially, to highlight the fact that it represents a reunion for the ‘Man on Fire’ stars. And a trailer played, which went online today…
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‘The Equalizer 3’ catches up with Washington’s government assassin-turned-kick-ass-do-gooder Robert McCall in Italy, where he’s trying to enjoy some downtime on the picturesque Amalfi coast and not be asked to take on villains.
Sadly, for McCall, that’s not the way his life goes, and he’s soon caught up helping some locals with Mafia goons and violence. Which means McCall has to break out his particular set of skills and lay the smack down on members of the criminal clan known as the Camorra (think an even more dangerous offshoot of the Mafia).
And while there are some very wild, violent thugs looking to tackle McCall, none of them are quite ready for what he brings to the table. Literally in one case, as we witness him applying nerve pressure to one of the enforcers. “That’s level three”, he tells the anguished henchman. “If “If it goes to level four, you will shit on yourself.” Thanks Denz!
But the highlight, as mentioned above, is in the reunion between Washington and Fanning. The latter was just 10 when she shared the screen with Washington ‘Man on Fire’ in 2004. Now, for ‘The Equalizer 3’, she’s playing a young CIA agent drawn to the village because of all the reports of violence.
And the two actors’ connection was clear, since they have stayed friends all these years. “She’s like a daughter to him, he loves her,” Antoine Fuquatold Empire of the off-screen dynamic between Washington and Fanning. “It was so beautiful to watch them together on the set, just talking, laughing. And they’re both so talented, they just get into it, they didn’t skip a beat. What was weird for me looking through the lens and seeing Dakota as a grown-up! She’s fantastic and watching them together was a joy because she’s a samurai. She knows it, she’s there, she’s pleasant, she does her thing. And it was a bonus her relationship with Denzel. She’s friends with his kids. It was very easy with those two.”
‘The Equalizer 3’ will be in theaters on September 1st.
Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.
‘Bad Boys 4’
While ‘Bad Boys for Life’ represented one of the few hits as the pandemic began to bite, Sony was naturally excited to roll out word of the next movie. The movie is now filming (with ‘For Life’ directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah returning) but isn’t yet at a stage where the studio can show a trailer. Still, it had stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence ebullient in a video introduction.
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‘Gran Turismo’
Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
‘Gran Turismo’, adapted from the Sony racing game is much further along, though while the trailer played to the presentation audience, it has yet to head online.
The film will tell the story of Jann Mardenborough ( ‘Midsommar’s Archie Madekwe), a British teenager who in 2011 entered GT Academy, an esports tournament created to find ‘Gran Turismo’ players who were good enough at the game to be able to competitively drive real-life race cars. Mardenborough was victorious in the GT Academy competition and became a race car driver for Nissan, competing in the Dubai 24 Hour endurance race.
In the trailer, we see Jann arriving with other GT Academy contestants and being put through the wringer by racing trainer Jack Salter (David Harbour) who puts them through a rigorous boot camp to get them in shape. It’s one thing to know how to hit every corner on a world-class racetrack and to overtake in a simulation of a Nissan GT-R LM, but as Jann finds out, it’s hard to do it when the g-forces and hot temperatures of an actual race car are bearing down on you.
“If you miss a racing line in a game you can reset,” warns Jack. “If you miss it in a real race, you could die.”
‘Gran Turismo’ drives into theaters on August 11th.
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‘No Hard Feelings’
Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Jennifer Lawrence and ‘No Hard Feelings’ director Gene Stupnitsky swapped onstage banter before introducing a new clip from the raunchy comedy about two helicopter parents who hire a woman to “date” their introverted 19-year-old son, so he doesn’t leave for college as a virgin. The comedy hits theaters on June 23.
Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
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‘Kraven The Hunter’
Also on display, Sony/Marvel Spider-adjacent superhero pic ‘Kraven The Hunter’, with star Aaron Taylor-Johnson playing the title character. He introduced the first look at the movie, enthusing that it’s Rated R.
In the footage, Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven is a tactical stalker with a penchant for cropped leather vests and five-star hair. He shreds his victims viscerally, often with primitive claw-shaped weapons. Blood pours freely over the screen and, at one intense moment, Taylor-Johnson rips the flesh off a target’s neck with his teeth and spits it out. Definitely an R-rating, then.
‘Kraven the Hunter’ will be in theaters on October 26.
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‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’
Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Co-director Kemp Powers was joined by voice stars Shameik Moore (who plays Miles Morales), and Hailee Steinfeld (Gwen Stacey), and new recruit Issa Rae (Jessica Drew) to show off 14 impressive minutes of footage from the sequel, which be followed by another movie in 2024.
“It’s been over a year since the events of first movie and he’s still trying to learn to be a superhero,” Moore added, saying that this movie shows that “how you wear the mask is what makes you a hero.”
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ will swing into theaters on June 2nd this year, with ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse’ due next year.
Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
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‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Sequel
There was also a video from Jason Reitman and the team making the sequel to ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ (on which Reitman and co-writer Gil Kenan have swapped jobs this time, Kenan directing while Reitman produces) confirming the story’s return to the New York haunts of the original 1984 ‘Ghostbusters’. The new film –– whatever its title –– hits theaters on December 20th.
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‘Napoleon’
While ‘The Equalizer 3’ wrapped things up, there was also room for a big get by the Sony executives, who had scored the chance to release Ridley Scott’s Joaquin Phoenix-starring ‘Napoleon’ in partnership with Apple.
“I know that he can do things cinematically that filmmakers half his age, can’t do,” Rothman said of the 85-year-old director.
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The clip shown had Joaquin Phoenix’s title character commanding the French army in a foggy, blurry wintery epic battle with the Russian and Austrian forces. Napoleon knows it’s coming; he has invited the attack. Lots of bayonets slicing and soldiers falling in the icy water.
‘Napoleon’ should be in theaters this Thanksgiving, followed by its arrival on Apple TV+ after that.
All in all, some big moves, and big movies from Sony.
Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Movies Presented at Sony Pictures 2023 CinemaCon Presentation:
(L to R) Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning in director Tony Scott’s ‘Man on Fire.’
Action thrillers have long been a go-to genre for movie studios and TV channels and streaming services are not immune to their lure. Prime Video has the likes of ‘Reacher’ and ‘Jack Ryan’, while Netflix has seen success with the recent likes of ‘The Night Agent’.
Now, the streamer is looking for more action, planning a new adaptation of A.J. Quinnell’s novel ‘Man on Fire,’ which was published in 1980 and has been previously turned into a movie in 1987 (starring Scott Glenn) and most famously in 2004, starring Denzel Washington.
Kyle Killen, who worked on ‘Fear Street’ for the company, is on board to serve as writer, executive producer and showrunner. He also worked on Paramount+’s adaptation of game series ‘Halo’ but left the show before it began production rather than relocate.
New Regency Productions, which owns the rights to the character and produced the movie starring Washington directed by the late Tony Scott, has been in talks with the streaming service for a while, looking to lock in a writer/showrunner.
While the books have Creasy as an American former member of the French Foreign Legion, the movie updated the basics to feature him as a hard-drinking, burnt-out ex-CIA operative who has given up on life until he’s hired as a bodyguard to protect 9-year-old Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning). Bit by bit, Creasy (Washington) begins to reclaim some of his soul, but when Pita is kidnapped, Creasy’s fiery rage is finally released and he will stop at nothing to save her as he sets out on a dangerous, revenge-fueled rescue mission.
Let’s just say that a whole lot of explosions follow, and plenty of people are stabbed/ shot/punched etc.
Killen has plenty of material to use for the series, since Quinnell (the pen name of author Philip Nicholson) wrote four more novels –– 1992’s ‘The Perfect Kill’, 1993’s ‘The Blue Ring’, 1994’s ‘Black Horn’ and 1996’s ‘Message from Hell’, which all feature Creasy.
The Netflix show, which has an eight-episode, straight-to-series order, will adapt ‘Man on Fire’ and ‘The Perfect Kill’.
And it wouldn’t directly adapt the 2004 film’s plot regardless, given that –– spoiler alert! –– Creasy dies from his injuries at the end (in the book, he fakes his death). He should enjoy (though given his dour mood, “enjoy” might be a stretch) a longer life if things go his way on Netflix.
Of course, a bigger challenge will be finding someone to play Creasy who can make the same sort of impact (in various senses of the word) that Washington managed in the movie, in which he co-starred with Dakota Fanning. That decision is still to come, so we wouldn’t expect the show to arrive before 2024.
(L to R) Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington in director Tony Scott’s ‘Man on Fire.’
