John Wick has become one of the biggest cult series in entertainment, with Keanu Reeves regarded among the coolest actors in the business because of it. There’s no doubt that the franchise inspired Ilya Naishuller’s Nobody in 2021, but the Bob Odenkirk-led offering has a slightly different appeal.

The former Breaking Bad star brought a unique charm to the action genre, and viewers enjoyed seeing an everyday guy taking on hordes of baddies. With Nobody 2 earning positive reviews as well, there’s a chance that this series could grow as big as John Wick.

Bob Odenkirk Has Come a Long Way Since Breaking Bad

Odenkirk has been ever-present in the entertainment industry for decades, but he earned mainstream recognition after playing the iconic role of Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad. That series was so successful that it expanded into other entertainment, such as online casino games. Breaking Bad Roulette helped the franchise reach more viewers and turn Odenkirk into a household name. This was reinforced when the flagship series ended, and he became the main protagonist in Better Call Saul.

In the years since those series, viewers have been desperate to see more of the 63-year-old. However, nobody anticipated that he would become an action hero. It was a pleasant surprise to see Odenkirk in his first performance in the genre, and some reviews suggested he rivalled Reeves’ performance in John Wick.

Viewers Love the Appeal of the Unlikely Action Hero

It could be argued that it was the casting that made Nobody and its sequel work so well. Rather than releasing a formulaic action film, Universal Pictures broke the mould with the casting of Odenkirk. This incongruous pairing piqued people’s interests, and many watched the film because they wondered how the Breaking Bad star would fare in such a role.

Along with Odenkirk shining as Hutch Mansell, the films were popular because of the appeal of the everyman becoming an action hero. Watching an average-looking suburban American unleashing deadly fighting skills was fun to watch, and it was a simple premise that people could easily get behind. It followed in the footsteps of other classics of the genre like Die Hard, in which Bruce Willis’s John McClane found himself in the middle of a deadly situation by accident.

Odenkirk Reportedly Interested in Making More Films

For everyone who loved the first two Nobody films, there’s good news. According to a recent report, Odenkirk already has ideas for a third and fourth film in the series. There’s no doubt that there’s potential to stretch this premise and put his character in new situations.

There’s also the chance that Nobody could lead to similar spinoffs. It would be interesting to see other famous actors of Odenkirk’s comedic ilk taking on action roles as well.

The John Wick franchise has set the standard for modern action, but Nobody could be set to challenge its dominance in the future. If the series can expand into as many sequels and spinoffs as John Wick, it may one day be regarded as the superior franchise.

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