Bob Odenkirk has carved a remarkable path from stand-up and sketch to high-octane action, and his latest chapter arrives as the Nobody franchise expands with a second installment released today. In a wide-ranging chat with Variety, the veteran comedian-turned-actor explains that shedding the familiar hush of a comedy writer’s frame to become Hutch Mansell, a semi-retired black-ops assassin, didn’t happen overnight.
To pull off the physical demands of the Nobody films, Odenkirk committed to a two-year training regime with stunt coordinator Daniel Bernhardt to perform his own fight scenes and minimize reliance on a double. He describes the process as a grueling transformation: it was more about forcing a ridiculous amount of hard work than chasing easy laughs, a shift that required him to reimagine his body and timing as an action lead. The effort paid off in more than onscreen intensity; it helped him endure a serious on-set health scare years later.
Odenkirk, now 62, notes that the journey was also about reinvention. “When you get older and you turn 50, you think, what can I do that will make me a different person, because I’ve been this guy for long enough,” he said. He recalls that the preparation was as much a personal mission as a professional one: turning a comedian’s body into an action-hero form required discipline, humor at times, and a stubborn resolve.
That dedication has drawn attention beyond his fans. Experts and audiences alike see his ability to pivot from television’s sharp-witted lawyer to an action star as a rare achievement, especially so close to retirement age. The Nobody franchise has become his platform to showcase a different facet of his career, presenting Hutch Mansell as a character who can balance quiet intensity with explosive action.
A notable personal note accompanying the film’s release is Odenkirk’s own health story. He has previously credited the intense training for Nobody with contributing to his resilience after a widow-maker heart attack on the set of Better Call Saul in 2021, underscoring how preparation can translate into real-life strength.
Summary: Bob Odenkirk’s transition from comedy to action—culminating in theNobody films and his portrayal of Hutch Mansell—continues to defy expectations. Two years of rigorous training, a near-fatal health scare on set, and a commitment to performing his own stunts all paint a portrait of an artist willing to reinvent himself at any age. The second Nobody installment marks a high point in that journey, offering fans a hard-edged blend of humor, grit, and relentless action.
Key takeaways
– Odenkirk spent two years training with stunt coordinator Daniel Bernhardt to perform fight scenes himself.
– He attributes part of his survival of a 2021 heart attack on the Better Call Saul set to the conditioning from Nobody.
– At 62, he continues to push the boundaries of what a comedian can become on screen, with the second Nobody film now available.