Between a peppering of indie titles such as Laggies (Say When) and Clouds of Sils Maria, plus the coma-controlled romantic drama If I Stay in 2014, Moretz also rubbed shoulders with Denzel Washington in Antoine Fuqua's re-imagining of The Equalizer. Desperate to challenge herself and offer a screen turn in a darker, more complex role, she fought vigorously for involvement despite being far too young for the part. Fuqua and his casting directors required an actress aged around 24 years old to play Terri; an abused prostitute who forms a bond with Washington's anti-hero - a number Moretz was far away from, and still is. Despite such a barrier, she pressed and made it clear this was the role for her. After impressing so greatly at the audition she battled for, Fuqua and screenwriter Richard Wenk immediately revised the character, making her younger whilst ensuring the gritty edge remained in tact. A few months later, Moretz was on set shooting the film.