‘Normal’ is the latest idea from author Derek Kolstad, who once invented the ‘John Wick’ series and also wrote the screenplay for ‘Nobody’. The director is Ben Wheatley, who recently directed Jason Statham in “Meg 2: The Deep” and previously demonstrated his talent for action with “Free Fire.”
The leading role is played by Bob Odenkirk, who takes on his second major action role after ‘Nobody’. The “Better Call Saul” star is already full of praise for the upcoming project. Because while Kolstad may have written some action scenes that will delight fans of “John Wick,” the actor is most excited about the story.
“The story has a quality that I haven’t seen in an action movie for a while”Odenkirk said. He compares “Normal” to the early “Jason Bourne” films and also promises a “level of suspense and mystery à la M. Night Shyamalan.”
A sheriff cleans up: this is “normal”
In ‘Normal’, Odenkirk plays deputy sheriff Ulysses, who, on the run from the demons of his past, always works in the small towns where there is a need. When the actual sheriff of the Normal community dies, he steps in to help in what seems like a sleepy town. There shouldn’t be much to do there, right?
Wrong thought. Because when the local bank is robbed by outside criminals, Ulysses discovers that there is much more going on. Normal is firmly in the grip of a criminal conspiracy and every resident – from bartender to priest – seems to be part of it.
We can assume that Ulysses will then have to fight everyone in the best “John Wick” lone fighter style. We may see it in theaters or on a streaming service as early as 2025. The project will be presented at EFM’s European film rights market, which takes place this week in parallel with the Berlinale, and filming could begin soon.
However, we still have to wait for “Nobody 2”. There were repeated assurances from all involved that there would be a follow-up. But so far no concrete steps have been taken.