Filmmaker David Leitch, who is best known for his high-octane action films like John Wick, Atomic Blonde, and Deadpool 2, took on a producer role in 2021’s acclaimed action thriller Nobody. The film stars Bob Odenkirk in the lead role as a family man with a violent past who resorts to his old ways after a failed robbery big against him.
Nobody received rave reviews upon release, with critics and fans praising Odenkirk’s commanding performance and the visceral, stylized action sequences. And it didn’t come as a surprise, considering Nobody was made by the same team that delivered John Wick: 87North Productions. However, Bob Odenkirk kicking ass at the age of 58, certainly came as a shock, especially taking into account his lack of experience in action films. Nobody was directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry) from an original screenplay by Derek Kolstad (John Wick).
Nobody was a moderate box office success even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and the film’s ending left plenty of scope for a sequel. And almost a year after release, David Leitch seemingly confirmed Nobody 2 in March this year, though Universal Pictures has yet to officially green-light the film. Talking to Collider, Leitch recently gave another update on Nobody 2, revealing that it is being written right now, and production is expected to commence soon.
"Oh, I think everyone's really excited about it. Everyone involved is like, 'Full steam ahead.' We are in the script process, and I think we had so much fun making that. Kelly [McCormick] and I had a blast, the actors had a blast, the studio loved the results, and it's happening. I mean, I think it's happening as fast as we can make it happen."
Even though the lack of official confirmation regarding Nobody 2 is frustrating, Leitch is confident the film will eventually happen with Bob Odenkirk returning.
"Yes, I do. I do, because there are these certain journeys that you go on, and they're just undeniable experiences for the people involved. And that was one of them. And I think all of us want to go back and play in that universe, and we want to see Bob bring that character to life again."
Nobody Saved Bob Odenkirk’s Life
Bob Odenkirk had a major health scare last year when he collapsed on the set of Better Call Saul. The cause was a heart attack that could have been fatal considering Odenkirk’s surroundings and age, but timely CPR and training for Nobody saved his life. Odenkirk trained for two years to get in physical shape for Nobody, and not only did that result in some incredible fight scenes but also improved his overall health. Here’s what Odenkirk told Howard Stern earlier this year:
"One of the things that saved me was, I learned how to work out. Because I was in good shape, you kind of enlarge some of the other veins around your heart if you work out a lot, and I had done that. And as a result, I was told that more blood was able to go to my heart during CPR, because these veins were just a little bit bigger from a lot of working out. But, also recovery-wise, I recovered much faster than I think a normal person who wasn't exercising so much would."
Bob Odenkirk is also ready to return in Nobody 2, and he’s not getting any younger, so it appears it’s only a matter of time before Universal officially announces the big news. In the meantime, be sure to check out Odenkirk in AMC’s Better Call Saul.