Although Bob Odenkirk doesn't exactly strike one as an action star, the actor is looking to switch gears with his next project that will find him channeling Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson. Universal's upcoming action/thriller NOBODY will find Odenkirk playing Hutch Mansell, "an unassuming family man who cowers and folds during a home invasion. His post-traumatic shame disorder reignites a long-cooled fire within, and he summons a secret lethal skill set for a revenge mission, only to see it backfire spectacularly and put his family in greater jeopardy." Entertainment Weekly has the first look at NOBODY, which finds Bob Odenkirk looking a little worse for wear.
Directed by Ilya Naishuller (HARDCORE HENRY), written by Derek Kolstad (JOHN WICK), and produced by David Leitch (ATOMIC BLONDE), NOBODY definitely has all the makings of a solid action thriller, and Bob Odenkirk worked his ass off to prepare for the role as he trained with stuntman Daniel Bernhardt for two years, learning a mix of boxing, jujitsu, karate, and judo moves. Odenkirk has already proven his dramatic chops, but NOBODY will place him even further outside his comfort zone.
I get the s— kicked out of me in this movie. I really wanted to go way far outside, like 180 degrees outside my comfort zone. Just commit to this guy, commit to his rage, and commit to his commitment to what he’s doing.
In addition to starring in NOBODY and serving as a producer, Bob Odenkirk was the one who first brought the idea to Derek Kolstad after he saw an advertisement for Better Call Saul in China. "It started with an advertisement for Better Call Saul in China that my brother-in-law sent me," Odenkirk said. "I thought, ‘Wow, they’re watching Saul in China! I wonder if I could do a film that could play around the world.’ Action-genre movies with strong, clear character drives and challenges play around the world. I’m in pretty good shape. I can get in better shape. They know me around the world as a character who’s striving, earnest, failing, getting back up again. It’s essentially an action lead without the fighting." NOBODY was slated to hit theaters earlier this year, but was pushed back to February 19, 2021 due to COVID-19. Odenkirk is also slated to return for the sixth and final season of Better Call Saul, which is expected to kick off production next year.