Antoine Fuqua Wants Denzel to Play Scarface in Upcoming Adaptation

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, filmmaker Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer, The Magnificent Seven, Southpaw) discussed the possibility of turning The Equalizer story into a trilogy and his upcoming adaptation of Scarface, where he hopes Oscar winner and regular collaborator Denzel Washington (Training Day, Glory, Fences) will take the lead.

When asked about the dream casting, Fuqua explained that he’s trying to nudge Denzel into playing Scarface,

“My dream is for him to be Scarface,” Fuqua said. “He laughs sometimes and he kind of goes, “'(Al) Pacino did a great job! I don’t want to do that.'”

Despite Denzel being seemingly unsure about taking on such an iconic part, Fuqua says that he is still “trying to nudge him into doing it.”

The Scarface adaptation is based on the 1930 novel written by Armitage Trail. The book was heavily inspired by real-life gangster Al Capone aka Scarface. The story follows the rise and fall of Tony “Scarface” Camonte who takes over the illegal alcohol business in Chicago during the Prohibition Era after killing mob leader Al Springola. The story concludes with Camonte being killed by his brother, an officer with the Chicago PD, who doesn’t recognize his brother since he thought he had died in WWI.

The iconic 1983 Scarface film is set in Miami in 1980 and follows Tony Montana, a determined Cuban immigrant who takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed. Fuqua’s reimagining from Universal Pictures will shoot from a script polished by four-time Academy Award winners Joel & Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men, Fargo). The newest adaptation is said to take place in a contemporary Los Angeles setting and will be produced by Dylan Clark with Scott Stuber executive producing alongside Scarface producer Marty Bregman.

Whether or not Denzel decides to become the next Scarface remains to be seen, but Fuqua told the outlet that they are both on board to make The Equalizer 3 happen. Nothing is set in stone, but Fuqua would “love for it to happen,” and the possibility of a trilogy has been brought up by Sony. Fuqua also mentioned that if The Equalizer 3 were to happen, he’s interested in an international setting where Denzel could play a “James Bond-type character.”

The Equalizer 2 became the surprise #1 movie in America in its opening weekend, with an estimated domestic total of $35.82 million for the three-day weekend. The R-rated sequel has surpassed the original, exceeded studio and industry expectations, and became the highest grossing opening in Antoine Fuqua’s career. Denzel Washington stars in the title role once again in the first sequel of his career. Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Bill Pullman, and Melissa Leo co-star.

What do you think about Denzel becoming the next Scarface? And are you hoping for a third installment in The Equalizer franchise? Share your thoughts in the comments!