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EXCLUSIVE: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes helmer Rupert Wyatt might well have found his next film after stepping out of the Apes sequel. I’m told that he’s in early talks to helm The Equalizer for Sony Pictures and Escape Artists. That is the film that has had a lot of helmers chasing after the script by Richard Wenk prompted the studio to expedite Denzel Washington’s deal and set a June start date, likely in Boston. The film is a smartly budgeted thriller based on the TV series that will come in around $50 million and is designed to launch the first franchise for Washington, who’ll be paid his customary $20 million.
The film is loosely based on the TV series that starred Edward Woodward as a mysterious former covert operations officer who helps people in trouble, and was created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. The film has that basic premise but takes off in its own way, tailored to Washington’s skills. He’ll play a solitary, monastic figure who hates injustice and devotes himself to helping people who are being victimized. The film is being produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Alex Siskin, Mace Neufeld, Michael Sloan, and Tony Eldridge. David Bloomfield is exec producer. Wyatt’s repped by WME and Independent Talent Group.
A few things have to happen before Wyatt is locked. Though he stepped out of the Apes sequel, he has an option at Fox that has to be worked out with Sony. Wyatt is also booked to direct Turn, the period pilot for AMC, and is attached to helm Nicholas Hoult in Birdsong, an adaptation he scripted based on the Sebastian Faulks novel.
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$50 M budget with $20M going to lead actor. Sure, that makes sense. $30 M for production and everyone else. Not saying Denzel doesn’t draw in the crowds, he truly is one of the best actors around, but this math really doesn’t make sense. Ever heard of cutting his rate for profit participation?
He’ll cut his salary when the market demands it. No one is forcing the Studio to pay it. That’s not Hollywood Math – that’s free market math.
It does if you’re Denzel Washington. After having taken your suggestion to heart for the Oscar-bait gambit that was “Flight”, no way does he do it for a ‘popcorn movie’ like “The Equalizer”. By the way things have shaken out for the film, I’m sure he was happy to take a “Flight”, but no way he’s going for a ride on this one.
Yes, he just did that on FLIGHT.
Why would the totally bankable Denzel Washington take less upfront money for what sounds like a popcorn movie? He cut his rate for FLIGHT because that was challenging material, and that film did pretty darn well at the box office. Casting Denzel in a reasonably priced action thriller is about as close to a guaranteed success as you’ll get in Hollywood. Given the twists and turns of showbiz accounting, is it even worth it for a star to go for profit participation if a movie isn’t going to make mongo TRANSFORMERS money?
He’s moderately bankable. His $20 million dollar salary would be 40% of the total budget. I have no problem with him getting $20 million if the market will bear it, but in that case, why not double the budget to $100 million and throw in more explosions and gun fire? With his salary, there’s only $30 million dollars left for everything else. By the time the director, the writers, the caterers, the cinematographer, and the union stooges all get their take, there’s not going to be a lot left for anything else. $30 million dollars of production money is almost an independent movie budget.
Regardless, I won’t be seeing it. He’s nothing like the original actor and there’s no point in calling this The Equalizer when even the basic casting isn’t being done right.
“He’s nothing like the original actor and there’s no point in calling this The Equalizer when even the basic casting isn’t being done right.”
Why? Because he’s black? The ‘basic casting’ consists of their skin color?
Yes.
When a white person is cast as Shaft or Martin Luther King Jr. then I’ll consider watching The Equalizer.
I’m actually responding to “Gravity’s Silhouette’.
His argument is weak when the defending characteristics of MLK and even a fictional character like Shaft are their race. It just doesn’t hold any weight and it’s the most cliche extremes to use when in this type of debate. Nobody knows nor cares about The Equalizer, so why does it even matter.
When changing the race of a character that’s well known, that’s when it depends on the context. For example, I don’t want Superman to be black, but I wouldn’t mind if the Daily Planet Editor in Chef, Perry White, is. (which is the case with Man of Steel)
All your comments are very engaging. We really agree with Johnny Ringo’s comment “Casting Denzel in a reasonably priced action thriller is about as close to a guaranteed success as you’ll get in Hollywood.”
WTF 3 weeks ago Deadline ran a story saying Nic Winding Refn was a lock. What gives?
Sony dropped the ball, and Refn left the project around the beginning of January.
have fun with jason B, Rupert.
Why should he cut his rate? He keeps doing his job and his face on the poster keeps putting tons of fans in their seats around the world! The studio needs to figure that out before going into production. Although the article doesnt state that there are financing issues( i.e. 250MM budget on a “Lone Ranger”) And Its not like its some “Malcom X” type project that everyone needs to bleed for! Who cares its a simple money maker!
George p.g.a.
Are you kidding me? Denzel Washington deserves that little measly $20 million and more! He is a classy, professional actor. They should count their lucky stars that he hasn’t raised the required amount by now. Let’s get real, he is the best of the few best!
Biggest Fan
What happened with Nicolas Winding Refn?
He was equalized right out of the equation.
supposedly, it was creative differences.
Sounds good to me. I loved that show. If it’s Denzel it doesn’t matter what color his skin is.
They cast Washington because he is a character acter who fits the mold of the original McCall in every way EXCEPT race and nationality. And with the changes in the past 28 years since the original series debuted, a black former spy (the basic description of McCall) is not that far fetched. I don’t think McCall being Brittish was ever realy a factor in the original series, so that is probably a moot point.