Nobody 2 Director Explains How It Differs From John Wick Franchise

Director Timo Tjahjanto has explained how Nobody 2’s ending separates the franchise from things like John Wick in a big way. Nobody 2 follows on from the first film, as Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) attempts to reconnect with his family on a peaceful vacation, only to be pulled back into the action when they are faced with an unexpected threat.

The film has been met with mostly positive reception, with Nobody 2’s Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score hinting at a promising future for the franchise. With its focus on family life, Nobody sets itself apart from other modern action franchises, especially when the sequel incorporates Hutch’s wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen), and son, Brady, into Nobody 2’s ending action sequence.

Now, in an exclusive interview with ScreenRant, Timo Tjahjanto has revealed the deeper meaning behind Nobody 2’s ending, the importance of Hutch Mansell’s family, and how the sequel reframes the title. Furthermore, Tjahjanto discussed just what makes the Nobody franchise as a whole markedly different from John Wick, despite their similar styles. Check out the director’s full comments below:

Reading the script, my biggest takeaway was, “Essentially, this is a film about a man who thinks he’s a lone wolf; a man who thinks he can function completely outside the norm of having family, without realizing that it’s actually his family that supports him the most.” And I think that speaks true, especially for the idea that, all this time, Hutch is actually thinking, “I’ve got to support my family. I’ve got to bring them to this holiday.” But ironically, in the end, his family saved him. And I always love that.

When you see somebody like Connie, you don’t see a damsel in distress. She’s a lot of things. She’s definitely a woman with tough skin, and when you see her, she’s the perfect embodiment of Hutch’s crutch. She’s the backbone, essentially, and I think Bob agrees with that.

By the end of it, when we see them under the water, she’s literally giving him the kiss of life. We feel like we earned this moment because this is what makes us different from John Wick. John Wick is a lone wolf. He’s a myth. He’s literally a living myth, while Hutch is just a man who’s killing a bunch of people, but at the same time, he’s not above not having family. He needs that, and that’s a good thing.

What This Means For The Nobody Franchise

As Tjahjanto explains, the ending of Nobody 2 isn’t just about high-stakes shootouts or perfectly choreographed combat, but recontextualizing who Hutch is. While 2021’s Nobody mirrored John Wick by presenting Hutch as another “one-man army,” the sequel firmly distances him from that archetype. Hutch isn’t a “lone wolf” or a “myth,” and that is because of his family’s presence.

The final moments, including a submerged rescue kiss from Becca, where she literally brings him back to life, drive home this contrast. Becca isn’t sidelined like John Wick’s own wife, she is integral to the plot. Similarly, Hutch isn’t a superhuman machine of vengeance like Wick, as “he’s not above having family. He needs that, and that’s a good thing.”

Our Take On Nobody’s Separation From John Wick

By including Hutch’s family, Nobody 2 turns what could have been a standard action sequel into something more human and emotionally grounded. The film evolves from its predecessor, exploring Hutch’s interpersonal relationships and ultimate motivation. As a result, Nobody 2 is not a clone of John Wick’s mythology, which is built around a man who lost everything, including his family.

Instead of being driven by vengeance or legacy like Keanu Reeves’ famous assassin, Hutch is driven by something real to him. Consequently, Nobody 2 stands out in a genre ruled by “lone wolf” characters like John Wick. While Hutch thinks he can survive without them, embodying this archetype, as Tjahjanto says, “it’s actually his family that supports him the most.”