Denzel Washington's Unexpected Flirting Twist in Equalizer 3: Find Out What Really Happened!

Summary

Director Antoine Fuqua reveals that, in an early cut of the movie, Denzel Washington's Robert McCall was more flirtatious with Aminah, a local cafe owner.

The test audiences did not react positively to the subtle scenes, as they felt it was a betrayal towards McCall's late wife, Vivienne. Despite not being physically present in the franchise, Vivienne greatly influenced McCall's character development, shaping his outlook on life and his determination to combat injustice as the Equalizer.

Director Antoine Fuqua, in a recent interview with NME following the release of The Equalizer 3, discloses that test screenings resulted in the removal of flirtatious scenes involving Denzel Washington's character, Robert McCall. Despite receiving mostly positive reviews from critics, the film portrays McCall, a retired government assassin, reluctantly returning to his violent ways in order to protect his loved ones after living a peaceful life in Italy. Fuqua explains that early cuts of the film featured a more flirtatious dynamic between McCall and Aminah, the owner of a local cafe, but it was ultimately deemed inappropriate given McCall's loyalty to his deceased wife.

The script initially included more scenes that focused on Robert and Aminah's relationship, but the audience didn't want to see Robert McCall in a romantic context. After conducting a test screening, it was clear that the audience felt it was a betrayal to his late wife, so we decided to tone down those aspects of the story.

In the film, Robert was attempting to move on with his life and engage in light flirtation. He felt surprised by his connection to Aminah, but there was no aggressive behavior involved. However, we did remove the scenes where he would reflect on his late wife. It seems that the audience who adores Robert McCall and idealizes his wife views her as perfection, likely because we never actually met her. There's a certain allure to someone who's no longer present but was seemingly flawless.

Was Cutting McCall's Equalizer 3 Romance The Right Choice?

McCall's character in the franchise remains enigmatic, with snippets about his past gradually revealed in the first two movies. It is disclosed that McCall fabricated his own demise to spend time with Vivienne, his future wife. Unfortunately, Vivienne passes away, prompting the first Equalizer movie to follow McCall as he strives to fulfill her unfinished aspiration of completing the "100 Books That Everybody Should Read".

Alongside his literary ambitions, Vivienne's death profoundly influences McCall's persona in the movies. He devotes his existence to defending the helpless, exacting his personal brand of justice on those who victimize the innocent. While Vivienne never physically appears, her impact on the franchise and McCall's entire outlook on life is immense.

Test audiences did not support McCall pursuing a romantic relationship with Aminah, which is understandable. However, it is probable that Vivienne would have wanted McCall to find happiness with someone else after her passing, and depicting such a scene could have resolved concerns regarding his flirtatious behavior. It is important to note though, that the previous films did not primarily revolve around McCall's romantic life, and it is understandable why Fuqua chose to maintain the focus on the beloved McCall in The Equalizer 3.