‘Narcos’ Star Pedro Pascal to Play Villain in ‘Equalizer 2’ Opposite Denzel Washington (EXCLUSIVE)
Justin Kroll Film Reporter @krolljvar
AUGUST 21, 2017 | 11:53AM PT

Pedro Pascal is in negotiations to play the antagonist in Sony and Escape Artists’ “The Equalizer 2” starring Denzel Washington.

Antoine Fuqua is returning to direct. Todd Black is producing.

Plot details are currently scarce, other than that Washington will reprise his role as Robert McCall, a former special ops agent who now helps those who can’t defend themselves. Details on Pascal’s character are unknown.

The pic bows on Sept. 14, 2018. The movie is Washington’s first sequel after the first film was a hit, grossing $100 million domestically. Based on the 1970s TV series, “The Equalizer” followed McCall as a simple man who worked at a Home Depot-style store and kept a quiet life. His secret past, however, was brought to light when he took on a Russian syndicate to defend a young girl who was badly beaten by her pimps, who worked for the mob.

While details on what force Washington’s character will be fighting are being kept under wraps, it could be another high-powered gang led by Pascal.

The sequel is a big move for Sony, as this marks the first time Washington has ever reprised a character in his storied career. “The Equalizer 2” is such a priority for Washington that Fuqua left his post as director of the “Scarface” reboot at Universal to focus on the film.

It also marks a big get for Pascal, who has begun to build a busy career after breaking out as Prince Oberyn in Season 4 of “Game of Thrones.” He has continued to build a fan base with Netflix’s “Narcos” while slowly adding major films to his resume.

Along with Season 3 of “Narcos,” Pascal can next be seen in “Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle,” which opens next month and also stars Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, and Channing Tatum. He is repped by WME and Untitled Entertainment.

‘Moonlight’ Star Ashton Sanders in Talks to Join Denzel Washington’s ‘Equalizer 2’
Dave McNary Film Reporter @Variety_DMcNary
AUGUST 24, 2017 | 02:57PM PT

“Moonlight” star Ashton Sanders is in talks to join Denzel Washington in a lead role in Sony’s “The Equalizer 2,” with Antoine Fuqua directing.

Sony has set a Sept. 14, 2018, release date for the sequel, which begins shooting next month in Boston, but is keeping plot details from Richard Wenk’s script under wraps.

“Narcos” star Pedro Pascal is in negotiations to play the antagonist. Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman are returning from the 2014 film. Washington, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Alex Siskin, Michael Sloan, Tony Eldridge, and Mace Neufeld are producing the sequel.

“The Equalizer,” based on the 1980s crime drama series, starred Washington as a retired CIA black ops operative who lives in Boston and becomes a vigilante against mobsters. The film, directed by Fuqua, performed respectably, grossing $192.3 million at the worldwide box office.

Sanders played the teenage version of the main character, Chiron, in Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight,” which won the Academy Award for best picture this year. He also stars with John Goodman, Jonathan Majors, and Vera Farmiga in the sci-fi thriller “Captive State,” directed by Rupert Wyatt and shot earlier this year in Chicago. Focus Features is releasing “Captive State” on Aug. 17, 2018.

Sanders is repped by Hyperion Talent Agency, The Savage Agency, and the ESI Network. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.

Sony Pictures has moved Denzel Washington’s “The Equalizer 2” forward two weeks to July 20 from Aug. 3. It’s the fourth release date for the vigilante thriller, which was originally scheduled for a Sept. 29, 2017 release, which was later shifted a year back to Sept. 14, 2018, and then moved forward to Aug. 3. The sequel to the 2014 film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, also stars Ashton Sanders, Pedro Pascal, Melissa Leo, and Bill Pullman. “The Equalizer 2” will open against STXfilms’ “Mile 22” and Universal’s “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” which is launching a decade after the original.