Summary
Hit Mandirector Richard Linklater candidly responds to the chances of a sequel. Thenew Linklater movierecently arrived on Netflix and quickly rose to the #1 spot in its Top 10 Movies in the U.S. The black comedy follows Gary Johnson (Glen Powell), a psychology professor who begins helping the New Orleans Police Department catch murder-for-hire conspirators and realizes he has a knack for playing a pretend hitman and soliciting confessions. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he falls for one of his would-be clients.
In an interview withTV Insider, Linklater addressed the possibility of aHit Mansequel.Linklater bluntly pointed out that it’s a little too early to start speculating on one, stating,“No one’s even seen this movie yet, so I don’t know.“Check out his full statement below:
It’s a little too new. No one’s even seen this movie yet, so I don’t know. Yeah, who knows, but nothing jumped out. We felt like we told this story. But, you know, who knows?
Richard Linklater Is Right To Be Cautious About A Hit Man 2
Hit Man 2 Faces Some Big Obstacles
Linklater confirmed that he has no current plans to make a sequel toHit Man. Although it could still happen, his candidness in addressing the topic is understandable as there are few obstacles in the way. For one, as he mentioned, it’s still too early to evaluatethe movie’s performance. AlthoughHit Manreceived stellar reviewsfollowing its premiere and limited theatrical run, it is a streaming movie. Hence, in addition to reviews,Hit Man’s viewership will play a big role in determining whether a sequel will even be greenlit.
Another issue with aHit Mansequel is lead star Powell’sstatus as one of Hollywood’s fastest-rising stars. Although he has been active in the industry since he was a teenager, Powell struggled to nab major roles for many years. His breakthrough finally came in 2022 withTop Gun: Maverick, and now Hollywood can’t get enough of him. He rapidly stacked up major roles inAnyone But You,Hit Man,Twisters, and the upcomingHuntington. WithTop Gun 3also in development,it’s unclear whether Powell’s demanding schedule would permit him to co-write and star inHit Man 2.
Arguably, the biggest obstacle to a sequel is thatHit Manends with a note of finality. While the movie is a dark comedy, it is also a romance, with the romantic element eventually taking center stage in the film.By the movie’s end, not everything is resolved, but the main love story is complete. With the romance element resolved, a sequel would struggle to find the same sense of purpose the original boasts. Although there is already interest in aHit Mansequel, it may be for the better that Linklater doesn’t plan to make one.
Hit Man
Cast
Hit Man centers on a mild-mannered professor involved in police sting operations as a fake hit man. His life spirals into chaos when he unexpectedly falls for a potential client, initiating a series of unforeseen complications and dilemmas.
