Of all the action stars to emerge in recent years, one of the most unexpected—but welcome—is former Mr. Show star Bob Odenkirk. Parlaying his role as Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul into the action-packed Nobody franchise, Odenkirk, now in his sixties, has become a genuinely compelling action lead. What sets him apart is a mix of vulnerability, relatability, and offbeat humor that feels increasingly rare in the genre. He’s not invincible, and that’s precisely why he works.
This week, his latest film, Normal (read our review here), hits theaters, and it throws him into a particularly unusual face-off—against Henry Winkler. For anyone who grew up watching Winkler as The Fonz, seeing him play a villain still feels a bit surreal, but it’s also a testament to the late-career renaissance he’s been enjoying since Barry. Here, under the direction of Ben Wheatley, Winkler plays a fast-talking, morally slippery mayor presiding over a town hiding a dangerous secret. That secret ultimately erupts into a prolonged, all-out firefight between Odenkirk’s sheriff and just about everyone else, dominating much of the film’s runtime.
I had the chance to speak with Winkler, who goes way back with Odenkirk and clearly relishes his evolution into an action star. Their mutual admiration comes through, with Winkler praising both his work ethic and unexpected physicality. I also spoke with co-star Jess McLeod, who plays one of the sheriff’s few allies—the daughter of a former lawman who, it turns out, has some serious tactical skills of her own.
McLeod opened up about how intimidating it was to train with weapons for the role, while also emphasizing how much fun she had on set. Like Winkler, she highlighted Odenkirk’s laid-back, easygoing presence, which helped keep things grounded even amid the film’s intense action sequences.
Normal is now playing in theaters.
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