Fans of the bald assassin Agent 47 will have to wait even longer to see the character return to screens in a live-action format. The planned Hitman television series, which had been in development since 2017 with John Wick creator Derek Kolstad attached as writer and executive producer, has been officially canceled. Kolstad himself confirmed the disappointing news during a recent interview, revealing that the project is now completely dead and will not be moving forward at Hulu or any other platform.
The series was originally announced back in November 2017 as a partnership between Hulu and Fox 21 Television Studios. The plan was to bring the popular video game franchise from IO Interactive to the small screen with a fresh adaptation that would avoid the mistakes of the two previous live-action films. Derek Kolstad, who built his reputation by creating the stylish and violent world of John Wick, seemed like the perfect choice to handle a story about a methodical assassin operating in a world of underground contracts and exotic locations. But after more than eight years of waiting, the project has finally been put to rest.
Derek Kolstad Confirms the Hitman Series Is Dead in the Water
The news came directly from Derek Kolstad while he was promoting his new film Normal at the South by Southwest festival in Austin. When asked about the status of the long-gestating Hitman television project, Kolstad did not hold back. He made it clear that there is no hope left for the adaptation and explained how the situation feels personal for him as a fan of the games.
“It’s a little bit of a dagger in the chest. Who knows nowadays, but it’s dead in the water,” Kolstad said. He went on to express his deep affection for the source material, adding, “But, man, I love that thing, because I love that game and I love that character.”
The writer also explained the harsh reality of how Hollywood works when it comes to developing projects that never reach the production stage. “The problem is, I can write a screenplay, but no one’s going to go out and buy the screenplay. You’ve got to make the movie, you’ve got to make the show. But nothing’s happening with that man, sadly,” he said. His comments make it clear that despite having a completed script and a strong creative vision, the project simply could not get the green light from the studio to move into actual production.
A Long Development History That Never Paid Off
The Hitman television series was first announced in November 2017, with Hulu and Fox 21 Television Studios partnering to develop the project. Derek Kolstad was brought on board to write the pilot episode and serve as an executive producer. At the time, the announcement generated significant excitement among fans of both the games and Kolstad’s work on John Wick. The combination of a stealth-action video game property with the writer who helped redefine modern action cinema seemed like a natural fit.
However, after the initial announcement, very little news emerged about the project’s progress. Years passed without any casting announcements, production updates, or release dates. Behind the scenes, major corporate changes were taking place that likely affected the series’ fate. Fox 21 Television Studios was eventually renamed Touchstone Television under The Walt Disney Company’s leadership following the Disney-Fox merger. These kinds of corporate restructurings often lead to shifts in priorities and the cancellation of projects that were developed under previous management.
The studio’s output has also slowed considerably. Reports indicate that Touchstone Television has not released a new series since 2020, which suggests a broader strategic shift away from developing projects like the Hitman adaptation. Kolstad’s confirmation of the cancellation finally puts an end to years of speculation about whether the series would ever happen.
Previous Hitman Movie Adaptations Failed to Impress
One factor that likely worked against the television series was the poor track record of previous Hitman film adaptations. The franchise has been adapted for the big screen twice, and neither version managed to capture what fans love about the games or find success with critics.
The first film, simply titled Hitman, was released in 2007 and starred Timothy Olyphant as Agent 47. Despite featuring a talented lead actor and delivering reasonably entertaining action sequences, the movie received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. It currently holds a dismal 16% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Olyphant later revealed that he took the role primarily for financial reasons, explaining that he had recently bought a house and needed to pay bills after his acclaimed series Deadwood was canceled. Despite the critical drubbing, the film performed decently at the box office, grossing around $101 million worldwide.
Eight years later, a reboot titled Hitman: Agent 47 arrived in theaters. This time, Rupert Friend took on the role of the genetically engineered assassin. The film attempted to explore the character’s origins and leaned more heavily into the sci-fi elements of the game mythology. Unfortunately, critics were even less kind to this version. It currently sits at an 8% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. The worldwide box office total dropped to approximately $82 million.
Both films struggled with the fundamental challenge of translating a video game that emphasizes player choice, stealth, and methodical planning into a linear narrative. Critics and fans alike felt that both movies reduced Agent 47 to a generic action hero rather than capturing the precision and intelligence that defines the character in the games.
Disney’s Streaming Strategy and Industry Changes Played a Role
The cancellation of the Hitman series is not happening in isolation. Industry observers point to broader changes in how streaming platforms approach content development as a contributing factor. Hulu, like other services, has become more selective about which projects receive funding for full production. The days of greenlighting numerous projects based on recognizable intellectual property names alone appear to be ending.
Interestingly, Hulu recently canceled another high-profile revival project. The planned Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel series, which would have been titled New Sunnydale, was also scrapped despite significant fan anticipation. This pattern suggests that Hulu and its parent company Disney are taking a harder look at their development slates and making tough decisions about which projects actually make financial and creative sense to pursue.
The challenge of adapting Hitman specifically may have also played a role in the decision. The games are known for their open-ended mission structure that allows players to approach targets in multiple ways. Translating that nonlinear gameplay into a traditional episodic television format presents significant creative hurdles. Studios may have ultimately decided that the costs and risks of attempting such an adaptation were too high, especially given the franchise’s poor track record with previous adaptations.
What This Means for the Hitman Franchise
While the television series is dead, the Hitman video game franchise itself remains very much alive. Developer IO Interactive continues to support Hitman: World of Assassination, the compilation title that includes content from the most recent trilogy of games. The game receives regular updates and new content, keeping the community engaged even as the film and television side of the franchise struggles.
Looking ahead, IO Interactive is currently focused on a major new project. The studio is developing 007 First Light, an original video game based on the James Bond franchise. This ambitious project is scheduled for release on May 27, 2026. The Bond game represents a significant undertaking for the studio and has consumed much of their development resources.
However, IO Interactive has made it clear that they have not forgotten about Agent 47. Company leadership has confirmed that they intend to return to the Hitman franchise eventually and develop a proper sequel to 2021’s Hitman 3. The studio has also hinted at working on an unannounced fantasy game project, suggesting that they are expanding their portfolio while keeping the door open for more Hitman adventures in the future.
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For now, fans of the bald assassin will have to content themselves with replaying the excellent World of Assassination trilogy or checking out the original films, despite their flaws. The dream of seeing Derek Kolstad’s vision for a Hitman television series will remain just that—a dream that never made it past the development stage. As Kolstad himself said with a mix of disappointment and acceptance, nothing is happening with that project, sadly.
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