Fans of Bob Odenkirk’s action-hero persona have a new date to circle on their calendars. The upcoming crime thriller Normal, directed by Ben Wheatley, is set to hit theaters on April 17, 2026. The film recently generated significant buzz with its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it played in the Midnight Madness section.
Magnolia Pictures will release the movie across 2,000 theaters in the United States, making it the distributor’s widest release in its 24-year history. This move signals strong confidence in the film’s commercial potential following its successful festival debut.
The Story Behind ‘Normal’
Normal places Bob Odenkirk in the role of Ulysses, a disillusioned lawman who arrives in the sleepy midwestern town of Normal to serve as its temporary sheriff. He intends to escape his own troubled past, but his plans are upended when a botched bank robbery interrupts the town’s tranquil pace.
The robbery inadvertently exposes a sordid secret, leading Ulysses to discover that a vast criminal underground reaches throughout the entire town. Director Ben Wheatley describes the film as an “inverted High Noon,” where the sheriff is the one who needs protection from the townspeople he is supposed to serve.
“You’ve got this small town… but then there’s a dark side to this, too, which is that they have a pact,” Odenkirk explained. “How far are they willing to go to protect that pact?”
The film is described as a neo-noir modern western with a gonzo tone that Wheatley says would have “played drive-ins back in the ’60s and ’70s.”
A Look at the Cast and Crew
Normal brings together a talented ensemble cast. Alongside Bob Odenkirk as Sheriff Ulysses, the film stars Henry Winkler as the town’s Mayor and Lena Headey as Moira, a local bartender who becomes an outsider in the tight-knit community.
The supporting cast includes Billy MacLellan as Deputy Mike Nelson, Brendan Fletcher and Reena Jolly as the would-be Bonnie and Clyde whose bank robbery sets the plot in motion, and Jess McLeod as Alex.
The film is written by Derek Kolstad, the creator of the John Wick franchise, based on a story he developed with Bob Odenkirk. This marks another collaboration for the trio after their work on the Nobody films. The score is composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and Ryder McNair.
How ‘Normal’ Differs from ‘Nobody’
While both are action films starring Odenkirk and written by Kolstad, the actor emphasizes that his character in Normal is distinct from his role in the Nobody franchise.
The guy in Nobody is a former assassin, a “powder keg” who is stuffing his wild feelings inside. In contrast, Sheriff Ulysses in Normal is “probably more of a normal guy.” Odenkirk describes him as a man who is “trying to do his job” and is “hesitant to take action,” making him a more reluctant hero thrust into an extraordinary situation.
Director Ben Wheatley highlights Odenkirk’s ability to convey pathos as one of his strengths as an action lead. “He cares. You can feel him caring and worrying about the consequences of his actions,” Wheatley said, noting that the character takes his licks in part due to a degree of self-loathing.
Film’s Journey to Theaters
Normal began principal photography in October 2024 in Winnipeg. The project was packaged with Ben Wheatley directing and Odenkirk starring, and was taken to the 2024 European Film Market, where it secured pre-sales in several international territories including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany.
The film’s successful premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in September led to Magnolia Pictures acquiring the U.S. distribution rights. The studio quickly scheduled it for a wide theatrical release in spring 2026.
A first-look photo released in late October 2025 offers a glimpse of the film’s tone, showing Odenkirk’s Sheriff Ulysses firing a gun in an apparent snowstorm, confirming that the peaceful town of Normal will be the setting for some intense action.
With a spring 2026 release now confirmed, Normal is positioned as a major action title for the year, continuing Bob Odenkirk’s successful transition into an action leading man.
Also Read: Nobody 2 Cast and Plot Details: Bob Odenkirk Returns with Sharon Stone as New Villain
