Chloe Moretz was said to have impressed both Denzel Washington and the film’s producers and director so much in a “chemistry read” with Denzel that they’ve decided to essentially rewrite the role she’s been offered in the film, which was initially for a twenty-something prostitute. Moretz is 16 years old. 

But looking at her resume, despite her age, she certainly hasn’t shied away from edgier roles – see the upcoming Kimberly Peirce-directed Carrie, and of course playing Hit-Girl in the Kick-Ass franchise.

By the way, Antoine Fuqua will direct The Equalizer for Sony Pictures and Escape Artists, from a script written by Richard Wenk. Director Nicolas Winding Refn had the job initially, but then walked away from it, after he and the studio couldn’t reach an agreement. 

It’ll be a reteaming of the Training Day director with his star in that films, which won Denzel his first Best Actor Oscar, to the chagrin of many. 

The reportedly $50 million project is said to be designed to launch the first film franchise for Mr Washington – hence, if the first film does well, expect sequels.

The TV series the film is based on was set in New York, and centered on a former secret agent (played by the late Edward Woodward) with a “mysterious past” who tries to atone for past sins by offering, free of charge, his services as an investigator, aided by a diverse group of other sometimes-mysterious contacts (some of whom date back to his spying days).

No official synopsis for the film yet, but it’s expected to follow the basic premise of the TV series.

With Fuqua helming, this probably means we should expect a more hard-hitting, raw, gritty, R-rated kind of Equalizer, and not the PG/PG-13 series that was the TV show. This’ll probably be more like Denzel Washington in Man On Fire mode.

Production is now underway, which means fans and press are out in force with their cameras, snapping shots of the star on set. A few of those pics are embedded within this post.