Proving that it’s sometimes the unlikeliest figures that are the most fatally capable, Bob Odenkirk emerged as an action star in his own violent right in 2021’s Nobody, which starred the Better Call Saul alum as Hutch Mansell, a mild-mannered family man who returns to his former life of an assassin after he and his family become the target of a vengeful crime lord.
Now, four years on, Odenkirk and his on-screen crew are returning to the action fray in Nobody 2, with producer Kelly McCormick once again on hand and Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes For Us) making his English-language debut as a filmmaker.
As the trailer for the film arrives, our Peter Gray spoke with both Tjahjanto and McCormick about expanding this cinematic world, its real-life inspirations, and what fans can expect this time around.
As someone who grew up on the Vacation films, the Nobody 2 trailer incorporating that mentality and giving us the “Holiday Road” jingle…immediate win for me.
Timo Tjahjanto: Watch it 10 times, Peter!
And I spoke to you, Kelly, for the first Nobody, and I have to say you’re still one of my favourite interviews. You were just an absolute ray of sunshine and we both bonded over our crush on Dwayne Johnson, so I’m very excited to chat to you again.
Timo Tjahjanto: You never told me you love Dwayne Johnson? I thought you were a hardcore Jason Statham fan.
Kelly McCormick: I am a hardcore Jason fan. It was really hard for me, because it was like, “Oh my gosh, which one? They’re so different!” But I remember that interview, Peter. We had so much fun. Thank you for letting me join again today.
Oh, of course. Thank you!
Kelly McCormick: I’m so excited for you to see Nobody 2. The trailer is only a taste of how amazing this movie is. Timo crushed it!
I loved the first film. I was very excited to know that we were getting a sequel. The end of the first film definitely showed us there’s more to explore. And Timo, you’re coming into an already established world here. How was it blending your style of directing and approaching Hutch’s inner world? Did you want to show a darker or more vulnerable side to him with this film?
Timo Tjahjanto: I’m a fan of the first film. I’m also a fan of Ilya Naishuller (the first film’s director). I know him, and I was a huge fan of Hardcore Henry. So, I think when Kelly and David (Leitch) came to me with this project, I saw something really interesting in terms of, “Okay, we need to offer the audience almost a multiplication of all the variety of action set pieces.” But one thing that does interest me and draws me in is the whole juggle within the Hutch character as both a father and a husband, but also, at the same time, a seasoned killer for hire. I think there’s something really interesting there, and I think the whole chaotic world of these things, like a jigsaw, just falls into place. It’s chaotic, but that’s what interests me. I often compare Nobody and Nobody 2 to the moody winter meditation and the summer rage outburst. It’s these two beasts.
And Kelly, in evolving from Nobody, what conversations did you have in knowing what needed to change and what could stay the same? Are you already thinking bigger picture? Or do you have to contain and focus on the immediate story that’ll show itself?
Kelly McCormick: I hope there’s more to tell with Hutch Mansell and the Mansell family. And we definitely set it up where we can go to different places with them. For me, the first one was about the loss of commitment to the American dream. Once you settle into it, it’s not quite what you thought it was, and you miss the garbage and all these things, and you’re not the best father or husband. You’re not the best of anything. And how do you get your mojo back, you know? That is a really connective sort of feeling. And so Hutch becomes this kind of everyman, and in this (film) he’s on vacation. He’s had a tough go. So you gotta take a break.
But just like every family vacation, it’s filled with these microaggressions that make you want to rip people’s heads off. So I think that he has places to be in his life and more places to go on that journey that are super relatable to everyday life, and how annoying and how beautiful it could be. I think our release date is perfect, because I think everything will be coming home from those family vacations, and wishing they could have torn somebody’s head off (laughs). We’ll see where they want to go next, and I hope audiences want us to take another journey with him.
I’d be disappointed with audiences if they didn’t. I think the first film really came out at a time when cinema felt so unstable, and it came out the other side so successful and embraced. It was so great to see. And obviously we love Bob Odenkirk. With him as a star and producer, what’s the collaboration process like in shaping Hutch and his next chapter? How involved is Bob in placing Hutch’s steps?
Kelly McCormick: He’s very involved. It originated from him. Nobody came from him having frustrations about being robbed, if he could protect his family, an if he could do what he really wanted to do, which is, you know, take care of business. He had all these personal feelings and that really fueled the first movie. And did so in spades.
So, it’s always going to kind of come from Bob. In a weird way, it’s heightened and wild, and Timo has added a whole new addition to how much action we’re doing and how far we can go. And that’s been so fun to see. The core of the films has always been Bob, it has to be, because there’s an authenticity to it too. That is a requirement. Timo came in a little bit later in the process, but what was awesome is that he understood that and asked “What else can Hutch Mansell do?” He was a great addition in that push to stretch that. It was an awesome experience.
And without giving anything away, is there a scene or moment in Nobody 2 that you’re most proud of? Or something that will surprise audiences in how it pushes the genre forward?
Timo Tjahjanto: With this one, there’s definitely a vulnerable to Hutch Mansell as a character. I compare him to being this Jekyll and Hyde, you know? He’s trying to keep that balance between a good family man and this dark operator type. I think you will see in this film there’s a revelation where family meant everything and a man can only be so tough. (And) without his family, he kind of loses his identity. Bob did say that this film has to be about the balance between Hutch Mansell and his family. As Kelly said, the first film is from his experience of being robbed and how he expanded that creatively. Bob and I spoke a lot about being creatives, because people don’t understand that we are always juggling our personal life and our work. We’re away from our loved one, and how do we make it up? That’s all being tethered into this film. There’s a heart and soul to it that connects to that issues. That means a lot to me.
Aside from that, obviously the action is amazing. It’s a testament for the demand that the 87 North team instills. We were trying to be maximalist in our action approach.
As I said, I’m very excited for the film. I mean, seeing Sharon Stone in the trailer holding a French Bulldog and doing a little dance? I’m all for it!
Timo Tjahjanto: (Laughs) We all love that dance.
Thank you both so much. I hope I can talk to both of you again when the film is out there for the world to see.
Kelly McCormick: Thank you so much, Peter. We’d love to talk again when the film comes out.
Nobody 2 is scheduled to release in Australian theatres on August 14th, 2025.
