Long before his role as Robert McCall in the stunning and stylistic The Equalizer franchise, Denzel Washington was hoping to set the movies on fire with a follow-up to his other action hit. The 2004 film Man on Fire was a box office success and is widely considered one of Washington’s best films. However, in spite of the positive reception from fans and Washington’s willingness to take on the role again, a sequel to the film never happened, but that hasn’t stopped fans waiting.
Man on Fire stars Denzel Washington as John Creasy. A former military man whose demons lie in the closest bottle, Creasy is unexpectedly hired as the bodyguard for a wealthy car manufacturer’s daughter (Dakota Fanning). After a street battle leaves Creasy wounded and his young charge kidnapped, Creasy goes on a brutal quest for revenge. Based on the first book in a five-book series written by A.J. Quinnell, Man on Fire had both the space and a willing star to turn this stand-alone into a franchise. And yet, after two decades, fans continue to hope.
Fans Hang on After a Definite End to ‘Man on Fire’
20th Century Fox
When Man on Fire premiered, it was immediately embraced by fans. The film debuted at #1 in theaters and earned almost twice its production budget at the box office ($130+ million against a $70 million budget) only to almost double this take again with its sales in the home video market. Though it received mixed reviews from critics, the film was praised for its solid action and its top-notch cast. Denzel Washington was explosive and ruthlessly unhinged as an avenging not-so-angel. Dakota Fanning gave a stirring portrayal as his vulnerable charge who breaks the embittered soldier out of his shell. Viewers gave the film an A- CinemaScore and the film has been ranked in the top 10 of Denzel Washington’s best films.
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After such success, a sequel should be a sure thing. Not necessarily. Yet, even after Creasy’s death in that unambiguous ending, fans hoped to see more of the character in a follow-up film. It wouldn’t be the first time that a character overcame an end-of-film death. Though it is perhaps more prevalent in current films that have proved surprisingly successful, Creasy pulling a sudden revival would not have been out of character from the book series either. At the end of the 1980 novel, Creasy is also killed. He is later revealed to be alive with a wife and daughter in the sequel book released 12 years later. The film could have easily followed this path in a subsequent film, or even used the less popular “somehow he returned.” Washington was willing, and so were fans, but we’re still waiting.
Where to Watch ‘Man on Fire’
20th Century Fox
Man on Fire isn’t currently available on any of the membership streaming services, although the film is available to buy or rent through the usual platforms, including Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango, Google Play, and YouTube. The film was directed by Tony Scott, a frequent Denzel Washington collaborator. The pair worked on five films together, including 2010’s Unstoppable, 2009’s The Taking of Pelham 123, and 1995’s Crimson Tide.
Although there have been many false starts in hopes that a follow-up might come, most notably with the Fanning-Washington reunion in 2023’s The Equalizer 3, there has been no public confirmation on whether a film continuation should even be expected. The Equalizer 3 director Antoine Fuqua teased fans when he revealed that he thought of the movie as a spiritual sequel to the Tony Scott film.
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With a mini-reunion out of the way and another trusted director thrown into the mix, is another Man of Fire film possible? The jury is still out on that one, but fans who are still hoping for a follow-up might find reason to keep those hopes pinned as Netflix has announced that they are creating a Man on Fire television series. Starring Aquaman actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy, the series focuses on the former soldier’s search for a new life. Not much is known about the story yet, but the series is also set to star Billie Boullet (A Small Light) and Bobby Cannavale (Unstoppable). Should the Man on Fire television series prove a success, perhaps it will stir renewed interest in getting a proper movie sequel made.
Release Date
April 23, 2004
Runtime
146 minutes
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