Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Bob Odenkirk refused to ‘bulk up like a superhero’ for new action movie

Superhero actors are ‘all about their biceps and s***’, ‘Better Call Saul’ star says

Adam White
Monday 07 June 2021 06:30 EDT
Comments
Trailer for Nobody released

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk refused to “bulk up like a superhero” for his new action movie, Nobody.

In the film, Odenkirk portrays a suburban family man who turns into a violent killing machine after his family are targeted in a home invasion.

Despite the script calling for the actor to take part in stunt work and elaborate fight choreography, he has revealed that he didn’t want to change his body for the role.

“I was totally against bulking up,” he told The Guardian. “I didn’t want to look like a superhero. I’ve had friends who do these superhero movies, and they do that kind of weight training, and it’s all about their biceps and all that s***. I said: ‘I want to do my own fighting, but I also want to look like a dad.’”

Odenkirk also added that he expected to be laughed out of the room when he told his manager that he wanted to star in an action film.

“But he did not laugh,” the actor said. “Then I expected him to get laughed at when he ran it up the flagpole here in Hollywood. But people responded like, ‘Yeah, that’d be cool.’”

Bob Odenkirk in ‘Nobody'
Bob Odenkirk in ‘Nobody' (Universal)

In April, Odenkirk said that his involvement in Nobody was partially inspired by his own experiences of “traumatic” break-ins to his home.

“The first one was particularly traumatic,” he explained. “We weren’t all OK. And the violation that happened, the damage from that – honestly, there’s parts of it I can’t talk about. I would just say it resonates through our lives. That sense of being victimised by something you can do nothing about and in no way push back against. It really stayed with me, and it still does.”

Nobody, which also stars Connie Nielsen and Christopher Lloyd, is in cinemas from 9 June.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in