Denzel Washington starred in several successful Hollywood franchises, but The Equalizer undoubtedly propelled him to stardom. As director Antoine Fuqua plans to bring another installment on the big screen after The Equalizer 3, it would require something that would defy the power of time.
A lot of filmmakers have sought the help of technology to create compelling visual images that could alter reality, and this includes de-aging actors to look like their younger selves. While Washington still looks like he hasn’t aged a lot, Fuqua seeks to explore the magic of artificial intelligence for his next project.
The Equalizer Director Reveals His Thoughts About Using De-Aging Technique On Denzel Washington
In an interview with NME, Antoine Fuqua said that he is considering the use of artificial intelligence on Denzel Washington for the potential continuation of The Equalizer franchise:
“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.”
Still, Fuqua has not yet sat down with Washington to discuss this matter. He admitted, though, that he has seen a lot of movies where filmmakers used de-aging techniques on actors such as Harrison Ford and Tom Hanks. Despite the subject’s controversial status, Fuqua looks at it with a positive attitude:
“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 use of artificial intelligence to create a digital likeness of an actor has stirred a lot of buzz in Hollywood, especially with the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Since it would still take a few years before Washington returns for the planned origin story, Fuqua will have enough time to reflect and decide.
What Should Fans Expect From The Equalizer 3?
The Equalizer 3 will see Denzel Washington return as the former U.S. Marine and DIA officer Robert McCall. The trilogy is based on the popular 1980s crime television series under the same title. Fuqua teased fans on what to expect from the third film:
“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.”
Sounds like Washington is going to show the audiences a different side of his character that is still struggling to escape the past, so make sure to catch The Equalizer 3 in theaters this September 1.
Source: NME
