Hit Man director Richard Linklater candidly responds to the chances of a sequel. The new Linklater movie recently 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 with TV Insider, Linklater addressed the possibility of a Hit Man sequel. 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 to Hit 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 evaluate the movie’s performance. Although Hit Man received stellar reviews following 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 a Hit Man sequel is lead star Powell’s status 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 with Top Gun: Maverick, and now Hollywood can’t get enough of him. He rapidly stacked up major roles in Anyone But You, Hit Man, Twisters, and the upcoming Huntington. With Top Gun 3 also in development, it’s unclear whether Powell’s demanding schedule would permit him to co-write and star in Hit Man 2.

Arguably, the biggest obstacle to a sequel is that Hit Man ends 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 a Hit Man sequel, it may be for the better that Linklater doesn’t plan to make one.

Source: TV Insider