Trailer: Bob Odenkirk Stays in His Action Era in ‘Normal’

Did you watch Nobody and Nobody 2 and think to yourself, “Gee, I know Bob Odenkirk is a gifted dramatic actor and a comedy legend, but I could watch him beating the crap out of goons forever”? Did you watch Fargo and think, “Wow, that wood chipper was nifty and all, but I wish this had more shotguns and maybe a katana”? Well, good news! Hollywood agreed - or at least Odenkirk himself did - and now there’s a movie that’s ready to tick those two very specific, enjoyable boxes.

Normal is based on a screenplay by John Wick creator Derek Kolstad, though Odenkirk is getting a story credit on the movie because I guess the two workshopped it together while shooting Nobody as a vehicle for future collaboration. Set in the tiny, not-so-sleepy town of Normal, Minnesota, Odenkirk stars as an unassuming interim sheriff named Ulysses who has arrived after the previous sheriff passed away. He responds to a bank robbery only to uncover the dark secret that makes the town anything but, uh, normal? Pretty soon the whole town is out to kill Ulysses, and so is the yakuza.

Look, the point is that this is a crime drama/mystery with Odenkirk going full action star again. And based on the reviews out of the Toronto Film Festival, it’s also pretty funny and wears its Fargo fandom on its sleeve. But what just might set this Kolstad/Odenkirk joint over the top is the director, Ben Wheatley (Free Fire, High-Rise). He’s got a track record with thrillers and horror tinged with black comedy, and might just succeed in making Normal something more than another John Wick imitator.

Normal also stars Henry Winkler and Lena Headey, and I, for one, am very much looking forward to whatever gruesome fate awaits them. The movie hits theaters April 17, 2026 - take a look at the first teaser trailer below!