‘You’re the Worst’ creator Stephen Falk is tapped to write the series, expanding the acclaimed 2024 streaming blockbuster into a character-driven, disguise-heavy crime comedy.
LOS ANGELES — Netflix is ready to put on another disguise. Following the massive global streaming success of the 2024 action-comedy film Hit Man, the streaming giant is officially developing a television series adaptation inspired by the movie’s acclaimed premise.
While the new iteration is in its early stages, Hollywood heavyweights are already locked in behind the scenes. Original star Glen Powell and director Richard Linklater—who co-wrote and produced the feature film—are returning to the fold to executive produce the series.
A New Creative Mastermind at the Helm
To translate the slick, romantic neo-noir energy of the film into an episodic format, Netflix has tapped television veteran Stephen Falk.
Best known as the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of FXX’s critically adored anti-rom-com You’re the Worst, Falk brings a proven track record of balancing razor-sharp wit with complicated, morally gray relationship dynamics. His previous writing and producing credits also include prestige staples like Orange Is the New Black and Weeds.
Falk will pen the pilot and executive produce alongside Powell (via his BarnStorm Productions banner) and Linklater. The project is being developed in partnership with AGC Television and Dan Cohen.
The Format: ‘Alias’ Meets Case-of-the-Week
While specific plot lines are being kept strictly under wraps, industry insiders report that the series will lean heavily into the procedural and episodic potential of the movie’s core concept.
The Conceptual Blueprint:
Inspired by the bizarre, real-life story of Houston police contractor Gary Johnson, the show will follow an unassuming college professor who moonlights for the local police department. Posing as a professional contract killer to trap suspects trying to order hits, the protagonist must deploy increasingly elaborate prosthetics, accents, and psychological profiles.
Sources compare the intended structure to classic identity-shifting dramas like J.J. Abrams’ Alias, allowing a new narrative playground where the main character crafts a distinct, wild persona for a different “client” every episode, all while balancing the mounting panic of their mundane day job.
The Big Question: Will Glen Powell Return on Screen?
The announcement has immediately triggered frantic speculation regarding whether Powell will reprise his role as the charmingly chameleonic Gary Johnson.
While Powell’s attachment as an executive producer is a massive win for the project, a formal starring commitment remains unconfirmed. Since breaking out as Hollywood’s newest certified leading man, Powell’s calendar has become notoriously crowded, with upcoming commitments including Edgar Wright’s The Running Man reimagining and the A24 Texas Chainsaw horror project.
Whether the series serves as a direct sequel starring Powell or acts as a creative reboot casting a fresh, up-and-coming actor to step into the closet full of disguises, matching the scorching on-screen chemistry Powell shared with co-star Adria Arjona will be the adaptation’s highest hurdle.
Capitalizing on a Streaming Juggernaut
Netflix’s decision to franchise Hit Man is a total no-brainer. After acquiring the movie for a cool $20 million following its explosive world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film debuted on the platform to universal acclaim.
- The Rotten Tomatoes Score: A “Certified Fresh” 95% approval rating.
- The Streaming Volume: Amassed over 1.5 billion minutes watched in its debut week alone, holding the global #1 movie spot on Netflix for 10 consecutive days.
- The Accolades: Earned Powell a Golden Globe nomination and secured a Writers Guild of America (WGA) nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
By expanding the world of Hit Man into a multi-episode order, Netflix is betting that audiences are more than ready to fall in love with a fake killer all over again.
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