Although the John Wick movies still haven’t cast one of the best living martial arts stars, Nobody 2 can now make up for this shortcoming. The John Wick movies are spectacular. Since director Chad Stahelski’s original action thriller was released in 2014, the series has only increased its scope, critical acclaim, and box office success. While John Wick made a respectable $86 million upon release, John Wick: Chapter 4 earned a staggering $440 million. The fact that the original movie cost approximately $20 million and John Wick: Chapter 4’s budget was $100 million showcases its expanding scale.

However, while the John Wick franchise is now famous enough to be parodied in The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers, that doesn’t mean the series is flawless. I’m still disappointed that the John Wick movies are missing some of cinema’s most exciting martial artists. John Wick: Chapter 4 made room for Scott Adkins and Donnie Yen, but Ong-Bak legend Tony Jaa still hasn’t even had a cameo in the series. Similarly, even though he’s an action icon, one of my favorite martial arts stars of the last decade hasn’t appeared so far. Luckily, another upcoming action sequel can fix this.

Timo Tjahjanto Directing Nobody 2 Should Lead To Iko Uwais’ Casting

The Raid Star Has Collaborated With Nobody 2’s Director Before

Director Timo Tjahjanto will direct Nobody 2, a sequel to 2021’s Bob Odenkirk vehicle. Nobody was an action thriller produced by John Wick’s uncredited co-director, David Leitch, that starred Odenkirk as a mild-mannered suburban everyman who was secretly a retired John Wick-style assassin. Nobody 2 will rival the John Wick movies in terms of intense, impressive action sequences, judging by its director’s pedigree. Tjahjanto became famous for action thrillers like Headshot and The Night Comes for Us – kinetic, brutally violent, and endlessly inventive martial arts showcases that proved to me that he could be an A-list action director.

Headshot and The Night Comes for Us also both starred The Raid’s Iko Uwais, who I’ve been patiently waiting to see join the John Wick franchise. Nobody 2 can cast Iko Uwais before John Wick 5, since Tjahjanto has a long history with the actor and even got him to play a rare villainous role in The Night Comes for Us. There are reports that Tjahjanto and Uwais are planning another movie together, meaning casting Uwais in Nobody 2 would make perfect sense. Nobody 2 could even outdo John Wick‘s sequels with Tjahjanto and Iko Uwais’ combined skills.

Iko Uwais Would Be Perfect For John Wick – Or Nobody 2

The Martial Arts Superstar Belongs In Either Action Franchise

Thanks to The Raid movies and his earlier collaborations with Tjahjanto, I know Iko Uwais is one of the best action stars of the last decade. However, from Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins to Expend4bles, I’m willing to admit that Hollywood roles haven’t given the star a chance to shine yet. Fortunately, he would be a perfect fit for Nobody 2 and could single-handedly take the franchise’s action up another level, allowing Tjahjanto to improve on the solid original with a more propulsive sequel. Thus, Nobody 2 should beat the John Wick movies by casting this martial arts legend.