Titus Welliver’s Cancelled Spin-Off From The Equalizer Could Have Been a Thrilling Father-Daughter Saga—Here’s What We Missed!

While The Equalizer wrapped up its five-season run on CBS with a well-received series finale that provided emotional closure to fans, there was more in the works that never saw the light of day. The show’s showrunner, Joe Wilson, recently revealed that the series had been setting up a thrilling spin-off starring Bosch and Bosch: Legacy actor Titus Welliver, but it ultimately didn’t come to fruition. In an interview with TV Insider, Wilson shared details about the canceled spin-off, offering a glimpse into what could have been a compelling new chapter in the Equalizer universe.

The Spin-Off That Wasn’t: The Backdoor Pilot

The proposed spin-off was introduced during an episode of The Equalizer that aired on April 20, 2023. The episode acted as a backdoor pilot for the spin-off, starring Welliver as Elijah Reed and Juani Feliz as his daughter, Samantha. The father-daughter duo, both with deep CIA ties and troubled pasts, found themselves entangled in a covert mission. When Samantha reaches out to Robyn McCall (played by Queen Latifah) for help after her father goes missing, the investigation unravels a secret past full of twists and emotional baggage that Samantha never knew existed. By the end of the episode, McCall sets Samantha on a path to Atlanta, suggesting that her story would continue in a new series.

Wilson expressed regret that the spin-off never came to be but also conveyed his excitement about what it could have offered: “That [spinoff] would’ve been fantastic. It would’ve been a father-daughter situation. Titus Welliver is a fantastic actor. Juani Feliz is a star. She is a rising star, and we were looking forward to getting to see her kick ass and unpack all the lies that happened over her whole life.” Wilson described the planned show as offering a different take on the family dynamic of The Equalizer, focusing on the evolving relationship between Elijah and Samantha as they took their equalizing mission to Atlanta.

A New Family Dynamic and What Could Have Been

Wilson elaborated on the fresh approach that the spin-off would have taken. It was not intended to be a “better version” of The Equalizer, but rather a distinct, fresh perspective. “It was going to be in Atlanta. And so it would’ve been fun. It would’ve been more of a different type of family dynamic,” he said, hinting that the show would have explored a unique blend of action and family drama, with Samantha’s journey of self-discovery playing a key role.

Unfortunately, CBS passed on the project, and just days before the series finale of The Equalizer aired, it was confirmed that the show itself was coming to an end. Fans who were hoping for more adventures in the Equalizer universe were left disappointed by the cancellation, though the legacy of the show and its potential spin-off remains in the minds of the creative team.

A Conclusive End: The Finale That Offered Closure

Despite the spin-off plans falling through, Wilson and the creative team made sure that the finale of The Equalizer would provide satisfying closure for the show’s dedicated fanbase. The series finale saw Robyn and Dante (Tory Kittles) getting engaged, while Mel (Liza Lapira) and Harry (Adam Goldberg) recommitted to their mission of equalizing justice. Wilson explained that the finale was designed with resolution in mind, stating, “We didn’t want to end with a cliffhanger… we weren’t sure what was going to happen, and if we did end up on that wrong side, we did not want the fans to feel incomplete or cheated in any way.”

By giving the show a definitive and heartfelt conclusion, the creative team ensured that, even with the uncertainty surrounding the future, The Equalizer ended on a positive note, leaving fans with a sense of closure and satisfaction.

Streaming the Legacy: All Five Seasons Now Available

Although The Equalizer may be over, fans can still revisit the entire five-season run of the series, now available for streaming on Paramount+. For those hoping for more stories of justice and action, the legacy of The Equalizer lives on, as does the potential for more thrilling chapters in its universe—if not with the canceled spin-off, then perhaps in future reboots or new projects.

While the Equalizer spin-off starring Titus Welliver and Juani Feliz may never come to be, the heartfelt farewell of the series and the glimpses into what could have been remain a testament to the enduring appeal of the franchise and the talent of its creators.