On Monday evening, the red carpet at TCL Chinese Theatre was graced by the presence of Bob Odenkirk, Sharon Stone, Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, and RZA, all gathering to celebrate the triumphant return of Hutch Mansell in the highly anticipated action thriller sequel, Nobody 2. Odenkirk takes center stage as Hutch, a seemingly ordinary suburban father who moonlights as a master assassin—a blend of John Wick with a retirement fund and practical footwear.
Drawing inspiration partly from Odenkirk's own harrowing experience with an armed intruder at his home, he, along with screenwriter Derek Kolstad, crafted a character that resonates deeply. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Odenkirk unveiled the secret sauce behind his unlikely action hero's appeal. "What truly matters is that you see the family and can relate to their everyday struggles. Imagine missing the garbage truck or realizing you've booked the wrong-sized hotel room for your kids—those relatable moments are what connect us to the audience," he elaborated. "We want them to think, 'Yeah, I've been there too.'"
Crediting his rigorous physical training, fueled by a 2021 heart attack, for his role in the first film, Odenkirk emphasized the importance of maintaining fitness, even during the four-year hiatus between sequels. "I never stopped training; in fact, I was at it yesterday. It's fun and necessary at our age. Working out beats jogging on a treadmill or doing push-ups any day," he enthused. "I genuinely enjoy it, so I keep it up."
The film's narrative unfolds as Hutch and his family embark on a serene family vacation to a quaint Midwestern water park, only to stumble upon a colossal criminal plot that Hutch finds himself inexorably drawn into, despite his promise to his wife (played by Nielsen) to stay out of trouble.
Stone joins the fold as the unhinged criminal genius Lendina, sharing her delight in portraying a sadistic villain. "Michael Douglas once taught me: when embodying a villain, there are no rules. Unlike other characters, which adhere to a predefined structure, villains are unpredictable," she pondered. "This unpredictability mirrors real-world villainous behavior, especially when unmasked. It's crucial for audiences to grasp this—it captures the zeitgeist. I aimed for this with Basic Instinct, and I hope to achieve the same with this film," she continued, accompanied by her three sons, Roane, Quinn, and Laird.
RZA, who portrays Hutch's adopted brother Harry, elaborated on why Odenkirk, at 62, is the ideal action hero for contemporary times. "He possesses a natural, real quality, yet with a flaw. In the '80s, our action heroes were muscular icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Stallone, and you knew they'd deliver the goods. Today, it's the everyday Joe who can be just as deadly. This inspires everyone, even the guy experiencing road rage. When confronted by trouble, they might think, 'I'll handle it like Bob did,'" he concluded.
