Bob Odenkirk Takes Unscripted Falls in New Action Film 'Normal'

The actor says the slips were not in the script but made it into the final cut to emphasize his character's vulnerability.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:26pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a textured, cracked black leather surface, dramatically lit to create a high-contrast, glamorous aesthetic that conceptually represents the gritty action of Bob Odenkirk's new film.Odenkirk's unscripted falls in 'Normal' add a sense of realism and vulnerability to his action hero character.Normal Today

Bob Odenkirk tells PEOPLE that he fell twice while filming his new action movie 'Normal,' and those unscripted falls actually made it into the film's final cut. Odenkirk, who portrays a substitute sheriff who accidentally uncovers a conspiracy in a small Midwestern town, says he likes playing action heroes who are vulnerable and that the falls were a way to show the wear and tear a realistic action hero may experience during fight scenes.

Why it matters

Odenkirk's pivot to action movies with 'Nobody' in 2021 was a surprise for many fans, and his willingness to take unscripted falls in 'Normal' shows his commitment to portraying authentic, flawed action heroes rather than invincible superheroes.

The details

In 'Normal,' Odenkirk's character Ulysses is a temporary sheriff who gets caught up in a bank robbery that exposes secrets in the small town. Odenkirk says the two falls he took on set were not scripted but were kept in the final film because they fit the tone he was going for - an action hero who is vulnerable and gets weaker as he fights. Odenkirk has previously worked with 'Normal' screenwriter Derek Kolstad on the 'Nobody' movies.

  • Odenkirk fell twice while filming 'Normal' in early 2026.
  • 'Normal' is set to be released in theaters on April 17, 2026.

The players

Bob Odenkirk

A 63-year-old actor who portrays the lead role of Ulysses, a substitute sheriff, in the new action film 'Normal'.

Henry Winkler

Odenkirk's real-life friend who plays the mayor, a character at odds with Odenkirk's sheriff, in 'Normal'.

Derek Kolstad

The screenwriter of 'Normal' who has previously worked with Odenkirk on the 'Nobody' action movies.

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What they’re saying

“There's some really funny choices and gags in there, and in both cases, I fall down. And that's me falling down. That's not written into the script. That's the actual Bob Odenkirk actually slipping on a wet floor and on one greasy floor.”

— Bob Odenkirk, Actor

“I like playing action heroes who are vulnerable and who fall down and get hurt, and get weaker as they fight and have to fight through that weakness to win the fight.”

— Bob Odenkirk, Actor

What’s next

Normal is set to be released in theaters on April 17, 2026, giving audiences a chance to see Odenkirk's unscripted falls in the final film.

The takeaway

Odenkirk's willingness to take unplanned falls and portray a flawed, vulnerable action hero in Normal shows his commitment to bringing a fresh, authentic approach to the genre, moving away from the invincible superhero tropes.