The Equalizer 3 plot revealed: Denzel takes on the Mafia

Last Updated on April 4, 2023

While we’re probably not going to see an official trailer for Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer 3 for a few more weeks, Sony has revealed the movie’s official synopsis. While we already knew that the film was set in Southern Italy and that it would reunite Denzel Washington with his Man on Fire co-star Dakota Fanning, not much else has been revealed – until now.

Here’s the synopsis:

Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.

Richard Wenk, who wrote the first two films, returns to write the screenplay, although Fuqua’s brought on a new cinematographer – his Emancipation DP Robert Richardson. Fuqua’s last two Equalizer movies each made close to $200 million worldwide and have been evergreen properties for Sony. The films are based on the eighties TV series, which starred Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a former covert operative who uses his skills to help people in need. The films have pretty much the same premise, with Denzel’s McCall taking on the Russian Mob in the first film, while in the second film, he was pitted against a former colleague-turned-mercenary (played by Pedro Pascal).

In the meantime, CBS has a TV version of The Equalizer airing with Queen Latifah as the gender-swapped Robyn McCall. The new show and the Denzel movies are – so far – unrelated. As a fan of both of The Equalizer movies, I hope Denzel and Antoine Fuqua keep this grounded action series going for a long time.

Are you excited for The Equalizer 3? Let us know in the comments!