CBS shifts The Equalizer season 5 return date (and it's earlier than we thought)

The Equalizer has been a steady ratings earner for CBS. Despite not being the network's biggest show, the Queen Latifah-led reboot of the classic thriller series has etched itself into the fall lineup over the last half decade.

There was never any doubt that the show would be returning, but CBS has made an unexpected choice and decided to push up the premiere date for The Equalizer season 5. The show will now premiere on October 20, when it was originally scheduled for an October 27 return.

The Equalizer season 5 will premiere a week early

“Justified” – When a note McCall receives leads her to the location of her late father’s car, she must revisit the past to uncover who was behind his carjacking and murder nearly 30 years prior, on the CBS Original series THE EQUALIZER, Sunday, May 14 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Pictured (L-R): Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall and Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante. Photo: Michael Greenberg/CBS ©2023 CBS /

According to TV Line, a similar change was made with the new series Tracker. The Justin Hartley-led drama was moved up from October 27 to October 13, meaning that The Equalizer will premiere the same day that Tracker season 2, episode 2 airs.

The series ended on a cliffhanger during season 4, so there was definitely a sigh of relief among fans when it was renewed for another year. Tory Kittles, Latifah's co-star, also admitted to being relieved when CBS made the decision. He told Screen Rant that it felt good to know the network wanted more:

"It's very exciting news. The whole team is excited about that, and the fans have been letting us know that they're excited about that. So it's a win-win for everyone."

Tory Kittles promised a "bigger and better" season

“Blind Justice” – After a high-powered real estate developer is killed by a moving subway train, his widow hires McCall to investigate his death. Meanwhile, Aunt Vi and Dee visit an old neighbor living in a nursing home who may need their help, on the CBS Original series THE EQUALIZER, Sunday, March 3 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the /

Kittles also teased fans by hinting at some of the possible narrative directions for season 5. "We're going to push the envelope, and we're going to continue to open up the scope of the show," he told the outlet. "We realize that this is an international show, and we're speaking to millions across the globe."

The actor also praised the efforts of Equalizer showrunner Joe Wilson. "Our showrunner is such a great collaborator," he asserted. "I look forward to that. I look forward to getting bigger and better and continuing to find the nuance in each of these characters."

We look forward to the same exact thing come October 20!

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