Once upon a time, word came that award-winning author
(and all-around nice guy) Michael Connelly had teamed up with his friend, and fellow author, Terrill Lee Lankford to write a screenplay for a film version of THE EQUALIZER. Not surprisingly, many were excited by this prospect.
Right off the bat, speculative casting was done. I thought Liam Neeson was the ideal choice.
The series starred Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a former government agent that helped those in need. He ran an ad in the want ads reading “GOT A PROBLEM? ODDS AGAINST YOU? CALL THE EQUALIZER! ” Woodward won a Golden Globe in 1987. In the same year, the show picked up an Edgar for the episode The Cup. The Equalizer aired on CBS from 1985 to 1989.
Sadly, it sounds like the cruel financial realities of the real world are making the possibilities of an EQUALIZER film quite remote.
The screenplay was done for the Weinstein company. The Weinsteins originally founded MIRAMAX, but split from it and Disney to head out on their own. The company is having…shall we say financial difficulties.
I recently spoke with Michael, who confirmed it is collecting dust with no plans for production.
Crap.
