This is an interesting package: Deadline reports that Bob Odenkirk will star in Ben Wheatley‘s next film, “Normal,” with a script from “Nobody” writer Derek Kolstad. For those who don’t remember, Odenkirk starred in the 2021 actioner as a John Wick-type ex-assassin who comes out of retirement to take down bad guys. Odenkirk as an action hero won over lots of people, so no surprise there’s a sequel to that on the way. But “Normal” isn’t “Nobody 2“; so what is it?
It looks like it’ll be western action movie of sorts, ie: a new genre sandbox for Wheatley to play in. “Normal” will star Odenkirk as Ulysses, a man who reluctantly becomes sheriff of a seemingly ordinary town called Normal. However, after a bandit couple robs the town’s bank, Ulysses gradually realizes Normal is anything but. The town he’s sworn to protect is totally corrupt, and it’s up to him to enact justice.
If this sounds like the plot of several revisionist westerns, well, you’d be right. Still, it’s intriguing to see Wheatley operate in another genre piece. But who knows if this will be a goofy actioner like “Free Fire” or a more standard western narrative for the director. Marc Provissiero, who produced “Nobody,” returns to produce with Odenkirk and Kolstad. With WME Indepdent ready to launch sales for “Normal” at the EFM next week, it’s safe to assume this project will arrive in theaters before “Nobody 2,” but that could be wrong.
