Denzel Washington Reveals He's Returning for More “Equalizer ”Sequels: 'People Love Those Daggone “Equalizer”s'

"I've come to realize that the 'Equalizer' films are for me, too, because they're for the people," the 'Gladiator II' actor told 'Esquire'

Denzel Washington is returning for more Equalizer action.

The 69-year-old actor revealed in a newly released Winter 2024 cover interview with Esquire that he will be back for not one but two films in the popular spy-thriller franchise.

"I told them I would do another Equalizer, and we're doing 4 and 5," said Washington, who next appears in Ridley Scott's long-awaited sequel epic Gladiator II, which reunites him with his Equalizer 2 costar Pedro Pascal.

"More people are happy about that — people love those daggone Equalizers," Washington added.

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The two-time Academy Award winner went on to say that his personal satisfaction for his work is "about variety for me."

"I'll sometimes say to myself, 'One's for me, one's for them,' " he told Esquire. "So for example, Othello: We're doing it on Broadway and then a movie. That's for me."

"But I've come to realize that the Equalizer films are for me, too, because they're for the people," continued Washington. "They want me to go get the bad guys. 'We can’t get them, so you go get them.' And I say, 'Okay, I’ll get them! Just wait right there. I’ll be right back!' "

The actor has starred in all three Equalizer movies — the original in 2014, followed by two sequels in 2018 and 2023 — as retired government assassin Robert McCall, and also produced the films.

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And trilogy director Antoine Fuqua previously said that The Equalizer 3 was intended to be the conclusion of the saga — but also teased, "Never say never."

"I'm going to miss Robert McCall. I think it was a great character, my hero," Fuqua, 59, told PEOPLE in September 2023. "But it feels like it's the last one."

As for whether audiences could see a spinoff or sequel one day, the filmmaker said at the time, "That will be up to the studio."

"But that would be very cool, I think," Fuqua added.

Gladiator II is in theaters Friday, Nov. 22.