CBS’s planned The Equalizer spinoff has its stars and it looks ready to go as a new series!
CBS is no stranger to turning shows into franchises. We’ve seen it with NCIS and FBI, and Fire Country has a spinoff planned. Any hit show is likely to inspire some sort of spinoff showcase, so it’s no surprise that The Equalizer is joining that trend.
The CBS hit is based on the 1980s TV series, which later inspired the hit Denzel Washington movies. Queen Latifah is Robyn McCall, a former CIA operative who hires herself to help others in need in New York City. That has her using her tough skills and some allies to go against tough enemies.
The show is currently in season 5, and CBS has already announced plans for an upcoming episode to act as a “backdoor pilot” for a spinoff. Now, per Deadline, we know who the stars are and what it’s about.
According to Deadline, the episode will star Titus Welliver as “Hudson Reed, a former top CIA operative with a dark secret who is connected to Robin McCall (Queen Latifah) by an old mentor. Junia Feliz plays Samantha Reed who has been trained by her father to be a weapons expert, skilled martial artist and true chameleon all while hiding a mysterious past.”
The two will debut in Season 5, episode 16, which should air in the spring. The episode is intended as an opening for this new spinoff. It’s an interesting direction, given The Equalizer has usually focused on a solo star. But the two actors involved give it a nice push.
Who are the stars of the Equalizer spinoff?
A TV and movie veteran, Titus Welliver is best known for his turn as Harry Bosch in the long-running Prime Video series Bosch. After its seven-season run, Welliver reprised the role in Bosch: Legacy, which is set to finish its three-season run next year.
In an ironic turn, the next season of Bosch : Legacy will co-star Maggie Q as Renee Ballard, which will launch her into her own spinoff.
Feliz is a relative newcomer whose biggest role is in the Prime Video series Harlem, which is now airing its third season. She’s also starred in Civil War and The Terror: Devil in Silver.
It’s an intriguing matchup as we have the veteran Welliver as the father role and Feliz bringing fresh energy as his daughter. Welliver’s fans will no doubt flock to the series and the show is likely to build on their dynamic as they try to help others in need. Welliver might be more the support guy showing his tough side while Feliz handles most of the action scenes.
There’s no date yet for the episode where the two debut and no guarantee this will lead to an official spinoff. Still, it’s a good pairing and promises to expand the Equalizer universe to keep the action flowing for a while.
The Equalizer Season 5 returns on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 10/9c on CBS.