Bob Odenkirk to Star in Action Movie ‘Normal’

‘John Wick’ veteran Derek Kolstad, who wrote Odenkirk’s previous action movie ‘Nobody’, also scripted this new story of a man and some small town secrets.

Bob Odenkirk in 'Nobody.' Photo: Universal Pictures.

Preview:

Bob Odenkirk’s back action for ‘Normal’.
‘Meg 2: The Trench’ director Ben Wheatley will make the movie.
‘Nobody’ veteran Derek Kolstad wrote the script.

Though we’re more used to seeing Bob Odenkirk use his quick wits than his fists as Jimmy McGill in ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’, he proved he was more than up to the task of getting into clashes with 2021 action movie ‘Nobody’.

That film, directed by Ilya Naishuller and written by ‘John Wick’ veteran Derek Kolstad, saw Odenkirk as a an underestimated and overlooked dad and husband, who when his house is robbed, reveals his past as a government agent and all-round badass who takes on some dangerous Russian thugs.

Though they’ve talked about a sequel to that movie, Odenkirk and Kolstad have now reunited instead for a new action concept called ‘Normal’, which has British filmmaker Ben Wheatley attached to direct.

What’s the story of ‘Normal’?

Bob Odenkirk in 'Nobody.' Photo: Universal Pictures.

The new movie follows Ulysses (Odenkirk), who is thrust into the temporary role of the sheriff for the small sleepy town Normal after the previous officer’s untimely death.

When the town’s bank is robbed by an out-of-town couple, Ulysses arrives on the scene to find that the town is hiding much more sinister deep-seated secrets under its surface and everyone –– from the bartender to the priest –– is in on it.

And now Ulysses, who’s up until now focused only on running away from the demons of his past, must uncover the full extent of this criminal conspiracy.

Marc Provissiero, who worked with Odenkirk and Kolstad on ‘Nobody’, is aboard to produce ‘Normal’ alongside them.

WME Independent is representing the movie, and the distribution rights will be on sale at this month’s European Film Market, which kicks off next week. We doubt it’ll be long before someone snaps this up –– might Universal, which saw ‘Nobody’ earn nearly $60 million from a $16 million budget, take a chance?

What has Ben Wheatley worked on before?

2016's 'Free Fire.' Photo: StudioCanal.

US audiences might know Wheatley best from his most recent movie, the Jason Statham-starring giant shark sequel ‘Meg 2: The Trench’, but he’s been something of a genre-hopper.

He got his start in low-budget, high-bloodshed horror movies in the UK, including ‘Down Terrace’ and ‘Kill List’ and has made his way through different styles of films such as social satire ‘High Rise’ and a new adaptation of the Daphne Du Maurier novel ‘Rebecca’, famously previously brought to screens by Alfred Hitchcock.

He proved he can make action movies interesting via 2016’s ‘Free Fire’, which pitched two rival criminal gangs against each other in a shoot-out and a game of survival.