Nicolas Winding Refn, director of Drive and Bronson, is in talks to direct a feature film adaptation of the ‘80s TV show The Equalizer. The project already has its star in Denzel Washington, who — as per the original show’s premise — will play a retired intelligence officer that hires himself out as a freelance problem-solver.
Refn reportedly beat out a number of other candidates being considered for the gig, including Gavin O’Connor (Warrior), Pierre Morel (Taken) and Gareth Evans (The Raid: Redemption). That’s quite the who’s-who of promising young genre directors, but it’s easy to see why the studio would want to offer the job to Refn. After the massive critical success of Drive, the Danish-born filmmaker offers a flash of prestige to go along with his stylish, bloody action.
Combined with Washington’s resurgent star power (Flight is standing on an astounding $84-million gross and counting), Refn probably has this project burning white-hot in Hollywood. No other actors have been attached to the film yet, but you can bet the character players will be beating down the door soon enough.
The Equalizer already has a screenplay from Richard Wenk (The Expendables 2), and shooting is expected to start in spring of 2013, with an expected release date a year later in April 2014.
