The Equalizer 4: Confirmation Chances, Release Date Speculation & Everything We Know (2025)

The third movie may have wrapped up the trilogy, but there’s still demand for The Equalizer 4 and more stories with Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall. Denzel Washington has led the cast of every Equalizer movie so far after first taking up the role in 2014, with the most recent being 2023's The Equalizer 3. The Equalizer franchise has been a resounding success thanks in no small part to Washington’s performance as the retired US Marine turned vigilante.

The Equalizer 4 would be following up an action-packed, high-octane trilogy that’s as praised for its cinematography and directorial approach as it is intense fight scenes and stylish violence. The ending of The Equalizer 3 may have wrapped up Robert McCall’s story for now, but there are already discussions around The Equalizer 4 and if Denzel Washington could return once more to the franchise.

Latest The Equalizer 4 News

While there’s not been an official confirmation from studio Columbia Pictures on whether The Equalizer franchise will continue, there has been news on The Equalizer 4 and the direction it could take. It seems that if a new Equalizer movie happens, it will have to be without Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall.

Speaking to ET in 2023, Washington revealed that his plan is to bow out after The Equalizer 3, and he wouldn’t want to return for a sequel like The Equalizer 4. “This is the end for me,” he explained, “It may not be the end, they may do another one, but it's the end for me.” While this doesn’t rule out The Equalizer 4 happening, it does mean that it will have to find a way to continue without him.

The Equalizer 4 Isn’t Confirmed

Despite the box-office success of The Equalizer 3, Columbia Pictures hasn’t confirmed The Equalizer 4. It may be that they share Denzel Washington’s sentiment that Robert McCall’s story is best kept to a trilogy,

The Equalizer 3 director Antoine Fuqua has said he would be interested in returning for The Equalizer 4, but not without Denzel Washington. In an interview with EW the director explained “Yeah, it's up to [Washington]. Obviously, if he wanted to do another one, I would as well, but I don't see it. But who knows?”

The Equalizer 4 Release Date Prediction

Only if and when The Equalizer 4 is confirmed will it be possible to predict a release date. However, development on The Equalizer 3 ran from at least early 2022 through to January 2023 when filming wrapper, with Antoine Fuqua announcing his plans to make the movie much earlier in 2018. Based on this, The Equalizer 4 release date will still be several years away from the initial announcement, meaning 2025 at the earliest.

The Equalizer 4 Cast

The biggest change to the cast for The Equalizer 4 would undoubtedly be the lack of Denzel Washington. Until the movie is confirmed predicting the rest of the cast would be difficult too, since there’s no knowing who the story would focus on if not Robert McCall. The ending of The Equalizer 3 wrapped things up well, without any cliffhangers or teases hinting at who could take up the mantle next.

One possibility for The Equalizer 4 cast would be to continue the story with Dakota Fanning, the co-lead of The Equalizer 3, as Emma Collins. Collins is the god-daughter of McCall’s former handler, Susan Plummer, and her connections to McCall could make her an excellent bridge character to carry on and lead the cast without Denzel Washington for The Equalizer 4.

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The Equalizer 4 Story

There’s no shortage of material that could be tapped into for The Equalizer 4, but it’s just as likely to have an original narrative. The Equalizer is itself a reboot of the 1980’s TV show with the same name, although it shares little when it comes to direct story similarities. However, the source material is still available to mine for narrative ideas and characters to give a modern reimagining in a new The Equalizer movie.

If The Equalizer 4 is confirmed it’ll likely tell a brand-new story focused on whoever steps in as the next Equalizer after Robert McCall, a new central vigilante character for (presumably) the next trilogy in the franchise. However, another option that’s been discussed is a prequel to The Equalizer focusing on a young Robert McCall, which could mean The Equalizer 4 as a direct sequel never happens.