CBS has announced the termination of “The Equalizer” reboot after its fifth season, as reported by Variety. The show, featuring Queen Latifah as the lead, was the broadcaster's last remaining show up for consideration for renewal or cancellation. The season's final episode, to be broadcast on May 4, is now intended to conclude the series. Earlier in the sequence, CBS had also ended the new multi-camera show “Poppa’s House”, along with both “FBI: International” and “FBI: Most Wanted”. CBS has also opted against progressing a potential “Equalizer” spinoff it had tested this season.

The decision to wrap up “The Equalizer” is not entirely unexpected, as the show was also up for consideration for cancellation last season. Jointly produced by CBS Studios and Universal Television, the show was found to be a less financially favored option for CBS, especially this late in the series. The network has already greenlit several new dramas for the impending season, including another "FBI" series with Tom Ellis (another project with UTV), and migrating comedy pilot “DMV” to a series format. Other shows on order by CBS include the “Fire Country” spin-off “Sheriff Country” and the “Blue Bloods” spinoff “Boston Blue.”

Additionally, CBS recently moved the Matthew Gray Gubler drama “Einstein” to the 2026-2027 season. The network had also publicly declared a host of series renewals, including two more seasons for comedy “Ghosts”, and additional seasons for shows including “Tracker” and “NCIS”.

“The Equalizer" is a modern retelling of the 1980s series, featuring Queen Latifah in the role of Robyn McCall, an ex-CIA operative lending a helping hand to those with no place else to go. The ensemble cast included Tory Kittles, Adam Goldberg, Liza Lapira, Laya DeLeon Hayes, and Lorraine Toussaint. The show was adopted for television by Andrew Marlowe and Terri Miller, built upon the original series co-created by Richard Lindheim. Executive producers included Joseph C. Wilson and Queen Latifah, Debra Martin Chase, Shakim Compere, John Davis, John Fox, Loretha Jones, and Rob Hanning.