Hit Man director Richard Linklater explains how much of the film is based on a true story. The Linklater film stars Glen Powell in the role of Gary Johnson, a man who pretends to be a hit man, but in reality is a professor by day. Powell co-wrote the film with director Linklater. The script of Hit Man originates from a Texas Monthly article by Skip Hollandsworth which tells the story of the real-life Gary Johnson. In addition to Powell, Hit Man features a leading cast including Adria Arjona, Retta, Austin Amelio, and Molly Bernard.

Speaking with Comicbook, Linklater clarifies how accurate the film is to the real events on which it is based. Linklater explained that he “got to know [Johnson] a little bit” for the film, ensuring that Hit Man was from his point of view. The final film, however, took things “far beyond his own life,” extending beyond the limited scope of the article itself. Still, what Linklater “knew of him [Johnson] personally” was highly influential to Hit Man. Check out the full quote from Linklater below:

Oh, that’s a good question. You know, I got to know him a little bit. I just think this movie is so much his point of view, not only of her but just kind of the world, everything. So yeah, it influenced it a lot. You know, what I knew of him personally and what we gather from his life and everything. He had that view.

But I think he’d be bemused by this movie where we took it is far beyond his own life. I mean, the article about him ends when he lets her off. So everything from then on is this little thrill ride we take you on. So I don’t know, it’s pretty funny. But yeah, we’re all here for him in a way, you know.

How Is Hit Man Being Received?

The derivation of Hit Man’s plot is not far afield from that of another Linklater film Bernie. Like the Powell film, Bernie is also based on an article from Hollandsworth in Texas Monthly, and Linklater’s process was similar in that he developed a rapport with the actual subject. With more context on Linklater’s oeuvre, it is interesting to see the overlap in his plot inspirations. In the case of Hit Man, it sounds like Linklater spun off the true story to a more outlandish degree.

So far, Hit Man’s handling of its story has been well-received among critics and fans alike. Hit Man has gotten positive reviews, getting a 97% Tomatometer and a similarly impressive 95% audience approval rating. Critics are raving about the script that Powell and Linklater have put together, as well as Powell’s leading performance as Gary Johnson.

Hit Man’s 97% score situates the film as Powell’s highest-rated work in his career, coming in just about Top Gun: Maverick’s 96% score. For Linklater, Hit Man is not his highest rated (that honor goes to Before Sunrise), but it is certainly in the upper echelon of his filmography. The film is also higher-rated than Linklater’s previous movie, Apollo 10 ½: A Space-Aged Childhood. However much Hit Man strays from reality, Powell and Linklater’s scripting efforts have clearly paid off.

Source: Comicbook