While Nobody 2 was recently confirmed to be wrapped, Bob Odenkirk continues his action career with the upcoming film, Normal. The movie is written by John Wick and Nobody screenwriter Derek Kolstad, and Ben Wheatley takes up the directing duties with this one. Now, Variety is reporting that Happy Days and Barry star Henry Winkler is set to join the cast along with 300 and Game of Thrones star Lena Headey. It is yet to be announced on what roles that they will be playing.
The film finds Odenkirk playing Ulysses, a lawman “who is thrust into the temporary role of the sheriff for the small sleepy town Normal after the previous one’s untimely death. When the town’s bank is robbed by an out-of-town couple, Ulysses arrives on the scene to find that the town is hiding much more sinister deep-seated secrets under its surface and everyone – from the bartender to the priest – is in on it. And now Ulysses, who’s up-till-now focused only on running away from the demons of his past, must uncover the full extent of this criminal conspiracy.“
Odenkirk recently conveyed that he was equally impressed with the concept behind Normal as he was with Nobody. “It just had this quality to it I don’t think I’ve seen in an action movie in forever. I’m going to call it suspense mystery,” he said. “You could argue that the Bourne films, especially the early ones, have that element, where he’s trying to explore and solve a mystery, the mystery of his own past. There’s that sort of dimension in this story, something that Derek expanded on, which I think was the reason Ben Wheatley came on board.”
He would also explain why he thinks an against-type of actor like him is an ideal candidate for these type of action roles. “A lot of action movies, where the guys are too handsome and built, it’s hard for the audience to buy into the idea that they’re in danger. I don’t have that problem,” Odenkirk said. “Audiences genuinely see me and go, ‘Oh, jeez, this guy is screwed. He’s going to get his ass handed to him.’ He doesn’t get to win by sheer muscle because he doesn’t have that. He gets to win through tenacity and cleverness.“