The project remains in development, but it already has key figures from the movie attached, with Glen Powell and Richard Linklater set to executive produce. The show will be written by Stephen Falk, best known for creating the comedy series “You’re the Worst,” signaling that the adaptation may retain the blend of humor, crime, and character-driven storytelling that helped make the film a success.
What We Know About Netflix’s Planned ‘Hit Man’ Series
While Netflix has not revealed plot specifics, the proposed title is expected to draw from the central concept that powered the picture. The story revolves around an ordinary man who adopts a range of carefully crafted identities while posing as a contract killer in undercover operations. The setup offers room for an episodic format, with new cases, disguises, and moral complications potentially driving the narrative from week to week.
The original film was directed by Richard Linklater, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Glen Powell. Powell took the lead role as Gary Johnson, a quiet college professor who assists law enforcement by impersonating a hitman. What begins as a police operation gradually becomes far more complicated when Gary develops feelings for a woman who seeks his services in an attempt to escape an abusive marriage.
“Hit Man” drew inspiration from the real-life story of Gary Johnson, a college professor who worked with Houston police during undercover sting operations in the late twentieth century. The factual basis came from a 2001 magazine article by journalist Skip Hollandsworth, though much of the movie’s romantic and criminal intrigue was fictionalized for the screen.
The picture assembled a cast that included Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta, and Sanjay Rao alongside Powell. Following its premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival in September 2023, the film continued its festival run before arriving in theaters in May 2024 and debuting on Netflix shortly afterward. The release earned widespread praise from critics and further elevated Powell’s profile as both an actor and screenwriter.
