Its your first sequel, and his.
What drew you back to this property?ANTOINE FUQUA:Yeah, my first sequel.
You know, its the script.
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It felt like it was right for the times.
Movies are funny, because you kind of have to feel where we are in the world sometimes.
Working with Denzelagain was another huge factor for me.
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I could hear his enthusiasm.
I think he has fun playing Robert McCall.
I think he really enjoys that character.
One of the big additions to the story is the character of Miles, played by Ashton Sanders.
McCall becomes a much-needed father figure for him as he debates linking up with a local gang.
One bad decision can really turn your life around and change it forever.
Denzel had a great passion for it.
He would call me some days, and we would listen to different rap music.
Wrong place, wrong time, or wrong decision.
We just lost this kid[XXXTentacion], the rapper in Miami.
Somebody just robbed him, and its such a shame…. Wrong place, wrong time.
Its just heartbreaking, because you wonder what else he could have contributed to the world.
They want to go out and kill people for whatever their so-called reasons are.
That kids life is going to change forever.
And thats difficult and heartbreaking.
What was it like to film that?It was tense, because we shot that in the projects.
She was smart enough to jump out.
And then the cops all surrounded him, with guns out, to get him.
It came out of the moment more.
Hes either going to be six feet under the ground or buried alive in some prison system.
It had to be urgent, because that scene happens rightthere.
When he says to Miles, You dont know what death is.
What do you see when you look at me?
Thats really who he is: death.
And that he can choose a different one.Exactly.
He gives him a choice to make.
And I think thats always important to help anybody.
I think thats important.
It feels personal, evolving McCall into this more paternal role-model figure.
I grew up in a rough area, and so what that means is that Id seen it before.
But not just me look at our country.
People are at each others throats, and everythings so mean right now.
Some people just want to garden and want someone to help them clean up the garden.
Its not always beating someone up.
He does it without wanting a reward or congratulations or really anything.
Thats just a rare thing in todays society, to experience that.
People do things now and everything goes right on Instagram.
You wonder where the sincerity is.
Cant people just do it quietly in the dark and not worry about the rest of the world?
I think weve really lost our way a bit.
You filmed this movie in Boston, as you did its predecessor.
What keeps you coming back to that city?Me and Boston have a deep history.
I love Boston, I really do.
Its a weird relationship.
And then I wound up doing pretty well withTraining Day.
And then my second time, withThe Equalizer, the same thing happened.
I was in the air when the Boston Marathon bombing happened.
And I saw the city go through a ton of things, heartbreaking situations.
When I was there this time,a racist group tried to march on Boston.
I love the people of Boston.
I watched them stand up and fight against all that, help each other through some tough things.
I dont think Ive ever been so proud of America, really, because they stood up.
I saw all those people and I thought, This city is just not standing for it.
