EXCLUSIVE: The Equalizer is the latest hit CBS series to explore a spinoff. The Queen Latifah crime drama will introduce two new characters in episode 516 this season that could anchor their own series, sources tell Deadline.
Casting is currently underway for the roles: a skilled younger female martial artist, weapons expert and criminologist with a secret origin story who turns to McCall (Queen Latifah) for help, and an older male former top CIA operative. (It is unclear whether he and McCall know each other from their time at the agency.) Both are guest star roles with series regular options aimed at the potential spinoff.
If the offshoot goes forward, its two-hander format would be a departure from the original 1985 Equalizer series, the current CBS reboot as well as the movie franchise, which all had a single lead, male (first series and movies) and female (the Queen Latifah version).
Episode 516 of The Equalizer, which will air in the spring, is not designated as a backdoor pilot. CBS has been taking a more informal approach with its planted spinoff efforts, introducing potential lead offshoot characters in storylines integrated into regular episodes of the mothership series.
The network did it with Fire Country, tapping Morena Baccarin to guest star as a sheriff last season before the network gave a series order to a spinoff built around her character. (The firefighter drama may follow the same playbook with a guest arc played by Jared Padalecki this season that also could spawn an offshoot.) Similarly, a Tracy Morgan guest stint on CBS’ The Neighborhood led to a spinoff series, Clutch, on Paramount+, with Morgan’s character getting a makeover.
In addition to Fire Country, The Equalizer is looking to join other multi-series drama franchises currently on CBS such as NCIS and FBI.
Since launching after the Super Bowl in 2021, the Queen Latifah-led drama has been a Top 10 entertainment program in total viewers. It has been airing on Sundays from the start, currently at 9 PM until Feb. 16 when it will move to 10 PM.
A reimagining of the classic series, The Equalizer stars Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to turn.
The Season 5 cast also includes Tory Kittles, Adam Goldberg, Liza Lapira, Laya DeLeon Hayes with Lorraine Toussaint.
Fom Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios, The Equalizer is executive produced by Joseph C. Wilson, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), Debra Martin Chase, Shakim Compere, John Davis, John Fox, Loretha Jones and Rob Hanning.
