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'The Equalizer' Had a Viral Ad Run in the NY Times' Sunday Classifieds

by Alex Billington
April 21, 2014
Source: Twitter

"Got a problem? Odds against you?" Who you gonna call? How about The Equalizer! Last week we featured the first poster and we're waiting to finally see a trailer for the re-imagining of The Equalizer, originally a cult 80's TV show. In the big screen version, Denzel Washington stars as the Equalizer, a badass vigilante (or "former black ops commando") who comes out of hiding to rescue a young girl from Russian mobsters. Spotted by writer Gary Whitta in the NY Times (potentially from years ago) is a classified ad, with a fake 555 number, but similar to the exact one that's likely from Equalizer footage (whether old or new). See it below.

Here's the original tweet from screenwriter @GaryWhitta and what looks like a blurry shot of the NY Times:

A nice bit of viral marketing on this Sunday’s @nytimes: pic.twitter.com/LUT2sZzIsT

— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) April 21, 2014

Update: Found this confirming the ad's existence but it's an old tweet from 2012, and no photo in this one.

Just saw an interesting classified ad: "Got a problem? Odds against you? Call Denzel: (212) 555-4200." http://t.co/5E7EYh03

— Michael Rankins (@SwanShadow) July 24, 2012

Update 2: This might just be an off reference to the TV show, but we're finding out if it did really appear.

The Equalizer is directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Shooter, Olympus Has Fallen) and written by Richard Wenk (The Expendables 3, The Mechanic). Denzel Washington plays McCall, a former black ops commando who has faked his death to live a quiet life in Boston. When he comes out of his self-imposed retirement to rescue a young girl, Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), he finds himself face to face with ultra-violent Russian gangsters. As he serves vengeance against those who brutalize the helpless, McCall's desire for justice is reawakened. If someone has a problem, the odds are stacked against them, and they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer. Columbia opens the film in theaters September 26th.

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