Why Queen Latifah’s Rhymes and Rhythms Made Her a Perfect Fit for ‘The Equalizer’

Latifah’s transformation into an action star was not without its challenges. Just like Washington’s portrayal of McCall, Latifah’s character had to engage in combat to protect herself and others. While the character may have had combat training as a former government agent, it was Latifah’s background as a rapper and singer that became a secret weapon on set.

“There’s a dance to it. It’s choreography,” Latifah explained. “Everything is by beat. Being a rapper/singer/artist has helped me throughout my career in terms of rhythm. With Living Single, everything is timing because it was a sitcom. That helped me then, and that rhythm is helping me now, with the fight choreography. It becomes a song in my mind, where I gotta whoop you by the time that hook comes. I need to have this fight over by the time this chorus is over in my brain.”

Latifah’s unique ability to integrate rhythm into her fight scenes helped her create a smooth, almost musical flow in the choreography, turning what could have been a traditional action sequence into a rhythmic, fluid performance. Her deep connection to music and timing gave her an edge on the set of The Equalizer and enabled her to bring a fresh and distinctive energy to the role.

A New Era for the McCall Character

While both Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington portray characters named McCall, there is no familial connection between the two, and their versions of the character exist in separate universes. According to The Equalizer director Antoine Fuqua, there was no intention to connect the two McCalls, and each film and television series was made independently.

“We absolutely have no connection to that; it wasn’t even in [our] thinking, really,” Fuqua said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “We just did one movie at a time, and it was the audience that made each film successful.”

However, Latifah has expressed that a crossover between the two McCalls is not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Though she made it clear that the decision lies with Fuqua and Washington, she would be more than happy to share the screen with the legendary actor.

“It’s really between [Denzel Washington] and Antoine. Obviously, I love him to pieces. I have the greatest amount of respect for him,” Latifah said in an interview with Variety. “What he’s done with the films has been incredible, and I’d be more than happy to connect with him on any level.”

Despite the separation between the universes, Latifah remains an ardent fan of Washington and is keen to see how his version of McCall continues to evolve. “I’m looking forward to whatever he’s gonna do, because I know when he gets in the zone, it gets in the zone,” she added. “I’m gonna keep doing TV’s Robyn McCall and let him keep rocking the movie version of McCall; I know we’ll both continue to deliver.”

Conclusion

Queen Latifah’s journey from hip-hop icon to action star is a testament to her versatility and her ability to draw on her rich artistic background to create memorable performances. Her unique understanding of rhythm, timing, and choreography has not only shaped her music career but also allowed her to bring a fresh perspective to her action scenes in The Equalizer. As the series continues to evolve, there’s no doubt that Latifah’s deep connection to music and movement will remain a core element of her portrayal of Robyn McCall—a character who fights for justice with a rhythm all her own.