As production has just gotten underway, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is getting ramped up with the addition of Antonio Banderas (The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle) and the return of Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) to the cast, according to Deadline
In the first film, the world’s top protection agent (Reynolds) is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world’s most notorious hitmen (Jackson). The relentless bodyguard and manipulative assassin have been on the opposite end of the bullet for years and are thrown together for a wildly outrageous 24 hours. During their raucous and hilarious adventure from England to the Hague, they encounter high-speed car chases, outlandish boat escapades and a merciless Eastern European dictator who is out for blood. Hayek played the role of Sonia Kincaid, the hitman’s wife.
Banderas’ role is currently being kept under wraps, but Grant is set to return as his minor character from the first film, Mr. Seifert, a drugged-out corporate executive in London who Reynolds’ Bryce was hired to protect during his career downspiral.
The sequel follows bodyguard Michael Bryce as he was enlisted by Jackson and Hayek’s characters to join them on a mission along the Amalfi Coast. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard will again be directed by Patrick Hughes with Tom O’Connor to serve as the film’s scriptwriter.
And it certainly paid off for Millennium Films; The Hitman’s Bodyguard snagged $176 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, with $75 million of that total haul coming in domestically. Obviously, Reynolds, Jackson, and Hayek are reprising their roles for the sequel. The main trio will be joined by Morgan Freeman and Frank Grillo. According to Variety, the plot of The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard will revolve around Grillo’s character, an “Interpol agent who needs Reynolds, Jackson, and Hayek’s help to prevent a cyber attack in Europe.” Hughes will once again be in the director’s chair, while the story comes courtesy of Hughes. (No official word yet on the screenwriter.)
The first movie, directed by Patrick Hughes (The Expendables 3) from a script by Tom O’Connor (Fire With Fire), saw Reynolds playing Michael Bryce, an elite private security officer. Bryce is tasked with protecting the life of infamous hitman Darius Kincaid (Jackson), who is set to testify against the brutal dictator Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) in exchange for his wife Sonia’s (Hayek) release from prison. Much banter ensues. The Hitman’s Bodyguard is, honestly, a so-so action-comedy elevated by absolutely top-notch banterin’ by its stars.
Check out the image below. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is currently in production and headed to theaters in 2020..
