Despite their long friendship and past collaborations, Conan O’Brien expressed frustration over not being cast in the sequel to Nobody, starring Bob Odenkirk. O’Brien made his request public on his podcast in 2021 while promoting the original film, but audiences will not see him appear in Nobody 2, which premiered this Friday through Universal Pictures. O’Brien made a direct plea to be included, hoping for just a small but memorable part in the action film.
Promises Made But Not Kept in Casting Decisions
O’Brien reminded listeners of his 2021 conversation with Odenkirk, saying,
“When the first ‘Nobody’ came out, I had you on, I loved it, we had a great interview, and I said at the end, ‘If you ever make another one, you’ve got to put me in it.’ You went, ‘Yeah! Yeah!’”
However, he added with humor,
“I’m not in it! I just want to be beaten. I want somebody to beat the s—t out of me.”
Earlier, O’Brien had pitched himself as a possible “sexual dynamo” for the sequel, trying to persuade Odenkirk to create a role for him. Odenkirk appeared open to the idea at the time, engaging in playful banter during the podcast.
O’Brien recalled,
“I’m hoping there are sequels. I’m also hoping if there is a sequel, you’ll find a role for an old friend, with maybe a little makeup I could not look like myself and I could play a guy who’s a sexual dynamo.”
Odenkirk then asked,
“OK — will you start training for that?”
to which O’Brien replied,
“Yes I will. Yes I will, I’m taking the medication now.”
Looking Ahead to a Potential Third Film
Though O’Brien’s hopes went unrealized for Nobody 2, the two friends entertained the possibility of a third movie during the latest episode of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. O’Brien joked,
“When ‘Nobody 3’ comes out, I just want to be — put me in clown makeup, it won’t be me, and I’ll be a small … But I just want someone to beat me to death.”
Odenkirk responded with encouragement, saying, “We’ll make it happen.”
This exchange leaves open the chance that O’Brien’s wish might come true in the next installment of the franchise.
Reflection on Bob Odenkirk’s Career and Challenges
During the interview, O’Brien praised Odenkirk’s impressive versatility as an actor, a career path O’Brien didn’t quite expect when they first met in the late 1980s comedy scene. Their collaboration later included time on Saturday Night Live. The conversation also touched on Odenkirk’s serious health scare in July 2021, when he suffered a heart attack on the set of Better Call Saul. O’Brien’s admiration for his friend’s resilience was evident throughout the discussion.
Nobody 2 Debuts in Theaters Nationwide
Nobody 2 arrives in cinemas this Friday, continuing Bob Odenkirk’s role in the popular action series. Fans eager for more of Odenkirk’s gritty performance will be able to see the sequel across theaters nationwide very soon.
