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Why the success of ‘The Equalizer’ is bigger than the show itself Why the success of The Equalizer9 is bigger than the show itself
IN the faU of 2014, Denzel in right away, Chase recalled. Washington appeared on Queen “Her persona, her brand, Latifah's daytime talk show to everything that she stands for as discuss his latest project, 'The a woman and as a human being Equalizer/ a film adaptation of just seemed to fit very well with the 1980s TV series of the same this person who is there to help name. people when the system fails “I absolutely love the them,^^ Chase said. fight scenes in this movie,“ Like Latifah, who starred Latifah told Washington, who alongside Washington in demonstrated a disarming the 1999 thriller 'The Bone technique he learned from the Collector/ Chase has a movie's "stunt guys.” connection to the Oscar- Latifah recaUed her SWAT winning actor: She used to officer father teaching her run Washington's production tactical moves at an early age, company (how's that for prompting Washington to joke: Hollywood degrees of “So, you can hurt somebody.M separation?). “Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall Owens, enthusiastically stepped Terri Edda Miller - set out in CBS's 'The Equalizer/ into this year on a new CBS —Barbara Nitke/CBS photo to introduce a very different reboot of the series. version of McCall, “a Black 'The Equalizer5 premiered in woman, who is strong and fierce, the coveted post-Super Bowl underappreciated 2010 romantic but who is also vulnerable.w spot in February - becoming the comedy 4Just Wright? Chase “She can go toe to toe with first scripted series in more than has a slew of hits under her the most horrible criminals 25 years to make its debut after belt including the long-awaited in the world. But her greatest the big game - and introduced Harriet Tubman biopic that challenge,M Chase says with a Latifah as Robyn McCall, a earned Cynthia Erivo an Oscar laugh, “is standing up to her 15- single mother and former CIA nod for best actress,4 The year-old daughter, which I think operative who secretly pursues Princess Diaries' and Disney is true for a lot of people.55 vigilante justice on behalf of the ChanneFs groundbreaking 1997 Chase thinks it would have disenfranchised. adaptation of 'Cinderella.5 For been harder to make this version Although some critics have Chase,4 The Equalizer5 helps of 'The Equalizer5 even just a praised Latifah's performance, bring a longtime dream to few years ago. reviews for the drama have been fruition. She briefly considered leaving lackluster overall. “I have been trying for almost the entertainment industry in But the show's 20 years to bring a Black woman 2015, but has been encouraged accomplishments are undeniable. who kicks butt to the screen,“ by steps Hollywood has taken The ratings, though she said in a video interview. on- and off-screen to tell more significantly down from the 20 During the show's press diverse and inclusive stories in million-plus viewers that tuned tour, Chase emphasized that TV and film. in for the debut, have remained Robyn McCall had always been “Five years ago, you were respectable, keeping CBS atop envisioned as a Black woman. fighting to get women and people prime-time TV rankings even as That identity, Chase said, of colour and women of color fewer viewers look to broadcast lends a versatility to the director gigs, on, particularly, TV each week. character - something the network television,M Chase said. The network renewed the producer has been saying for Now, they're so in demand, show for a second season just years. some of the filmmakers Chase four episodes in, well ahead of its “She can dress up and go to the and her collaborators wanted to Season 1 finale airing Sunday. ...fancy, fancy gala. She can be bring on were unavailable for the Its success highlights down in the hood with the boys show's first season. important strides the and still fit in,“ Chase said. "We've talked a lot about entertainment industry has “A savvy woman uses all of creating pipelines in all areas made in the years since Latifah that access to her advantage of our production to help bring unknowingly interviewed -and that's what Queen Latifah people of color and women into Washington about the role she is able to do in the show, which the fold,“ Chase said. would one day take on. makes it fun and exciting.M "It's an exciting opportunity. 'The Equalizer5 makes Latifah Earlier in her career, Chase made And we5re bringing on as many one of only a handful of Black history as the first Black woman people of color and women as we women to lead an hour-long to ink an overall deal with a can." Bringing 'The Equalizer5 prime-time drama. major production studio. to broadcast - let alone in a That group also includes In 2017, she signed a first-look pandemic - was in itself a risky Teresa Graves, who made a deal with Universal Television move. pioneering turn on the short through her eponymous Chase said the show could have lived "70s drama 'Get Christie production company. easily ended up on a streaming Love'; Kerry Washington and Chase, eager to work with network. Viola Davis, who starred on Latifah again, connected with “At the end of the day, there's Shonda Rhimes's 'Scandal' the actress after Fox canceled the something very satisfying about and 'How to Get Away with musical drama 'Star,' in which making a show that everybody Murder,5 respectively; and Latifah was a main character, in can access, that has the potential Simone Missick, the lead of 2019. to really live internationally,M CBS's recently canceled legal It was Pearlena Igbokwe, also Chase said. drama 'All Rise.' Fittingly, a Black woman and the head “So many things these days 'The Equalizer5 reunited of Universal Studio Group, are not for network TV, so we Latifah with executive producer who suggested the pair take on decided to take the chance. Debra Martin Chase, an 'The Equalizer.J For everyone “And thankfully, people industry veteran who first involved, the role 'just felt like have been coming.55 —The worked with the actress on the the right fit5 for Latifah, who was Washington Post
