The term Hit Man is immediately associated by many with the recognizable bald-headed Agent 47 from the renowned video game series. However, this forthcoming project is an entirely separate narrative, brought to life by director Richard Linklater in the wake of one of his most celebrated pieces, the critically praised Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood. Linklater has assembled a star-studded cast for his new venture, an action comedy spearheaded by Top Gun: Maverick’s Glen Powell. Prior to the film’s unveiling at TIFF in September, a first glimpse from the movie has been shared.
Originating from an article penned for Texas Monthly by esteemed journalist Skip Hollandsworth, Hit Man chronicles the story of a police officer, played by Powell, who adopts a hitman persona in undercover work in Houston. Things proceed without a hitch until Powell’s character encounters a woman (Adria Arjona) desperate to escape an abusive relationship. Now, the covert cop must carefully balance his duty with the risk of becoming like the criminals he’s committed his life to apprehend. The debut image portrays Powell donning a pair of glasses, subtly reflecting the nonchalant but deadly facade typically preferred by hitmen.
Beyond starring in the film alongside Andor’s star, Powell is also contributing to the project as a co-writer with Linklater. For Linklater, the 2001 Texas Monthly article has held significant influence on his career, as this is the second instance he’s crafting a story based on the piece. His 2011 crime comedy, Bernie, was the first. In addition to Powell and Arjona, the Hit Man’s ensemble cast features Retta (Parks and Recreation), Austin Amelio (The Walking Dead), and Molly Bernard (Younger).
Image via Paramount Pictures
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Glen Powell Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Picture from Richard Linklater’s ‘Hitman’
A Winning Streak for Powell
Powell and Linklater have a history of collaboration, with Powell featuring in Fast Food Nation, Everybody Wants Some!!, and Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood. Their upcoming project promises to extend what has already been an incredibly successful period for Powell. In 2022, his performance in Top Gun: Maverick garnered much acclaim, and he continued his hot streak portraying the bond between U.S. Navy fighter pilots Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner in Devotion.
In a conversation with FilmSweep, the actor expressed enthusiasm about working on Hit Man with Linklater: “Rick and I came up with this film during the pandemic, gradually refining it. It was a lot of fun. We gradually realized, ‘Hey, this is pretty good.’ And then the excitement from others began to build,” he shared. “The reality doesn’t truly sink in until you’re on set. It was a remarkable moment realizing, ‘Wow, this is happening. We’re creating a movie together.'”
Hit Man will make its debut at TIFF in September. Don’t miss our interview with Powell below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Glen Powell Hit Man
Who is the director of the film ‘Hit Man’?
Richard Linklater is the director of the film ‘Hit Man’.
Who stars in the lead role in ‘Hit Man’?
Glen Powell stars in the lead role in ‘Hit Man’.
What is the plot of ‘Hit Man’?
‘Hit Man’ tells the story of a police officer, played by Glen Powell, who goes undercover as a hitman in Houston. Things get complicated when he encounters a woman, portrayed by Adria Arjona, who is trying to escape from an abusive relationship.
Who else is part of the ‘Hit Man’ cast?
In addition to Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, the ‘Hit Man’ supporting cast includes Retta (Parks and Recreation), Austin Amelio (The Walking Dead), and Molly Bernard (Younger).
When and where will ‘Hit Man’ premiere?
‘Hit Man’ will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September.
Has Glen Powell worked with Richard Linklater before?
Yes, Glen Powell has worked with Richard Linklater in the past. Powell starred in Linklater’s films ‘Fast Food Nation’, ‘Everybody Wants Some!!’, and ‘Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood’.
How has Glen Powell’s career been performing recently?
Glen Powell has been experiencing a successful period in his career. In 2022, he garnered acclaim for his role in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, and continued his impressive streak with a role in ‘Devotion’, portraying the friendship of U.S. Navy fighter pilots Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner.
What is the source of the ‘Hit Man’ story?
The ‘Hit Man’ story is based on an article written for Texas Monthly by journalist Skip Hollandsworth.
More about Glen Powell Hit Man
- Glen Powell’s Filmography
- Richard Linklater’s Directorial Works
- Top Gun: Maverick
- Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood
- Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
- Fast Food Nation
- Everybody Wants Some!!
- Devotion
- Texas Monthly
7 comments
wow, can’t wait for this movie. glen powell is a great actor! anyone know when its exactly releasing??
Didn’t know Powell could write too! excited to see how this one turns out.
agent 47 is my only Hit Man lol but this movie sounds pretty good… might give it a try
Glen’s role in Top Gun was fantastic! Cant wait to see him in another action packed movie. He’s on a roll!
Love all Linklater movies, bet this is gonna be just as good. Glen and him make a good team.
woah, so the movie is set in Houston, thats pretty cool. wonder if I’ll recognize any locations…
The cast line up looks amazing! Also, undercover cop stories are always my fav. Can’t wait for this.