The L.A. Times is reporting that Russell Crowe (GLADIATOR, THE INSIDER) will be starring in a film version of THE EQUALIZER.
The series, which aired on CBS, ran from 1985 to 89 and 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!” While they never went into too much detail about his background, it seemed like McCall helped folks to make amends for his past. Woodward won a Golden Globe in 1987. In the same year, the show picked up an Edgar for the episode The Cup.
The film project had originally been set up at The Weinstein Company with a screenplay by Award-winning author Michael Connelly (of Harry Bosch fame) and Terrill Lee Lankford. By the sounds of it, that screenplay will not be used, or will at least be rewritten.
No director is currently attached. Back in the day, Paul McGuigan (LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN, WICKER PARK) was attached to the project. I would love to see him back on board as I think he could be a nice job with it.
At this point, an actual film is likely still a ways off. No script, no director and no studio simply means a bunch of folk like the idea of it but have done little to make it a reality.