Gritty 80s vigilante TV series The Equalizer could be set to hit the big screen courtesy of Paul Haggis, with Russell Crowe in the lead role...
Remember The Equalizer? Like a television reworking of Michael Winner's vigilante fantasy Death Wish, the series starred the late Edward Woodward as a former secret service agent who spent week after week wiping out the criminal element in 80s New York.
More often than not, The Equalizer involved Woodward wandering around in a trench coat and shouting at teenagers in alleyways (or at least, that's how I remember it), but was notable for its frequent ‘before they were famous' appearances from actors such as Steve Buscemi, Joe Morton, Laurence Fishburne, a pre-Home Alone Macaulay Culkin, and numerous other recognisable names you can also find on Wikipedia.
Very much a product of its time, The Equalizer could nevertheless find itself heading to the big screen within the next couple of years. That is, if the news arriving courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter comes to pass.
The story goes that writer and producer Paul Haggis is looking to adapt the premise, with Russell Crowe lending his own brand of grumpy charisma in the lead role. Crowe wasn't the obvious choice to play Robin Hood, in our opinion, but he's perfect for the role of the shouty, coat-wearing vigilante made famous by Woodward.
We just hope Haggis retains the original series' Stewart Copeland theme tune, which was absolutely spiffing...