The idea of Nicolas Winding Refn making the move into Hollywood features on a film like 1980s TV show remake The Equalizer always seemed strange. It just didn't fit, even with a star like Denzel Washington on board to make the transition a little smoother. Turns out Refn may have had second thoughts on it, as well, because Collider reports he's exited the picture.
Refn entered talks to direct it late last year, but they now say the deal with Sony never went through, falling apart at the last minute for unknown reasons. The film has been in development for a bit, with Paul Haggis once developing it with Russell Crowe to star, but it was the Refn/Washington combination that had many people excited. The cult TV show originally starred Edward Woodward as an ex-CIA operative who tries to make up for his past deeds by hiring himself out to people in desperate need of help.
Sony is on the hunt for a new director to take up the reins and keep the planned May start date.
