From Saul Goodman to action man
Bob Odenkirk has secured his place in TV history thanks to his legendary performance as Saul Goodman in 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul' but now the actor wants to flex his action man muscles.
The star made his debut in action movies in the 2021 movie 'Nobody', and Odenkirk says he has an appetite for action.
Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, Odenkirk said "I was very surprised by 'Nobody.' I had initiated that project because I had a feeling that the character I was developing in Better Call Saul was the kind of character you see in an action film."
"He has earnest desires and he was willing to sacrifice himself," he said of his character."
Odenkirk is keeping in fighting form in anticipation of a new action flick.
"I still train multiple times a week and if I get my way you’re going to see me doing more action," he teased.
"I found the action sequences a great deal of fun and close to doing sketch comedy…I love the early Jackie Chan films which had humour in them. I’d like to get that in in future.”
Odenkirk has had a unique career from funny man to dramatic actor to action star, with Odenkirk first gaining prominence as a writer on 'Saturday Night Live' and on the short-lived 'The Ben Stiller Show' before creating the cult sketch show 'Mr. Show with Bob and David' alongside fellow comedian David Cross.
The star gained mainstream recognition thanks to his scene-stealing performance on 'Breaking Bad' as Saul Goodman, and the star is tipped to take home an Emmy for his performance in the final season of spin-off show 'Better Call Saul'.
Odenkirk has also appeared in Oscar-nominated dramas such as Steven Spielberg's journalism drama 'The Post' as well as Greta Gerwig's 2019 update of 'Little Women'.
'Nobody' was released in 2021 to solid reviews and a robust box office take, and Odenkirk has said he is game for more entries in the franchise.
The actor released his autobiography 'Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir' earlier this year and admitted in the book that the idea of him in an action movie seemed absurd to him.
He said "action plays around the world: everyone relates to the wish fulfillment of kick-ass action sequences but hold on - me in an action film?"
Odenkirk says he was talked into the project as a result of 'Better Call Saul' being an international hit and his marketability as a star, and the studio was happy to greenlight the project as Odenkirk was a recognisable face that could carry a movie.
Odenkirk said he strived to make his character in 'Nobody' less like the action man heroics of Liam Neeson in the 'Taken' movies, but more of a "sweaty, struggling, unreliable killing machine."
David Leitch, who recently directed the Brad Pitt action flick 'Bullet Train' and served as a producer on 'Nobody' said that production for a sequel was in the early stages, with Leitch telling Collider "I think all of us want to go back and play in that universe, and we want to see Bob bring that character to life again."