Keanu, Neeson, or Seagal? Where Bob Odenkirk Really Fits as an Action Star
- sunflowershillcom
- Sep 2
- 5 min read
I’ve spent way too much time scrolling through fan debates about Bob Odenkirk’s late career transformation into an action star. It seems every thread eventually boils down to the same question: Is he going to end up like Keanu Reeves, Liam Neeson, or Steven Seagal?
It’s funny, but it’s also a real way of asking something bigger. Can a comedian turned dramatic actor really become a convincing action hero in his 60s? After watching Nobody and now gearing up for Normal, I’ve got my own take. And it probably won’t surprise you which name I think Odenkirk fits alongside best.
The Keanu Benchmark
Let’s start with Keanu Reeves. His action credentials go back decades Point Break in 1991, Speed in 1994, The Matrix in 1999. When John Wick came along in 2014, it wasn’t his first rodeo. It was a reinvention. Keanu doubled down on intense stunt training, gun fu choreography, and a world building franchise that made him a global action icon again.
The thing about Keanu is that he’s always had a certain physical grace. Even when he wasn’t punching people in slow motion, he looked like someone who belonged in motion. Keanu’s action star journey feels more like a career revival than a complete left turn.
So does Odenkirk belong in the Keanu category? Honestly, not really. Bob didn’t build his career on kinetic roles. Nobody watched Mr. Show or Better Call Saul and thought, “Wow, that guy could pull off a headshot roll.” His leap into action was a true surprise, not a comeback.
The Neeson Surprise
Now, Liam Neeson is a different story. Before Taken in 2008, he was mostly known for prestige dramas (Schindler’s List) and period pieces. He was tall, commanding, and had a Shakespearean gravitas but he wasn’t known for cracking skulls. Then suddenly, in his mid 50s, he was breaking down doors, threatening kidnappers over the phone, and selling tickets to a brand new generation of action fans.
Neeson’s transformation felt shocking in the moment, but believable once you saw him do it. He looked like a dad, but a dad you wouldn’t want to cross. That contradiction became his appeal.
This is where I think Odenkirk aligns the most. He doesn’t look like an action hero by default. He looks like a guy you’d bump into at Costco. And that’s the point. When he fights, it feels raw and desperate. When he wins, it feels earned. Like Neeson, Odenkirk brings dramatic acting chops to a genre that doesn’t always get enough credit for character work.
The Seagal Trap
Then there’s Steven Seagal. And let’s be real nobody wants Bob Odenkirk to fall into that category.
Seagal’s career started with some genuine martial arts credibility, but it quickly devolved into self parody. He stopped moving. He relied on editing tricks and doubles. His later films turned into vanity projects where he looked bored while dispatching nameless bad guys. Fans joke about it because the contrast with Reeves or Neeson is huge.
Could Odenkirk slide into Seagal territory? I doubt it. Bob doesn’t have the ego for it. His whole brand is vulnerability. He shows the bruises. He sells the exhaustion. If anything, he’s the anti Seagal someone willing to look weak before finding a way to come back.
What Makes Odenkirk Different
Comparisons are fun, but the more I think about it, the more I realize Odenkirk isn’t exactly like any of them.
Keanu’s action is slick and stylish. Bob’s is messy and bruised.
Neeson’s roles lean into intimidation. Bob leans into resilience.
Seagal avoided pain. Bob embraces it.
Odenkirk’s lane feels unique: the “ordinary guy who refuses to quit.” It’s not about being the fastest punch or the sharpest shooter. It’s about persistence. Watching him fight is like watching someone refuse to sit down even when the odds say he should.
The Work Behind the Scenes
One reason I respect Odenkirk so much is because I know the effort behind the transformation. He wasn’t handed an action career. He built it.
After years of playing Saul Goodman, he could’ve coasted on courtroom monologues forever. Instead, he started training with stunt teams and conditioning his body in his late 50s. Then came the heart attack in 2021, a terrifying moment that could’ve ended it all.
Most people would’ve stepped back. Odenkirk pushed forward. He trained again, harder. He came back to finish Better Call Saul and lined up more action projects. That’s not vanity that’s grit.
Why Fans Relate
Here’s the thing: most of us don’t see ourselves in Keanu Reeves. He’s too smooth. We don’t see ourselves in Liam Neeson either. He’s too commanding. And we definitely don’t see ourselves in Seagal.
But Bob Odenkirk? That’s different. He’s the guy next door. The dad. The coworker. The man who doesn’t look like a hero until he suddenly has no choice. That’s why fans connect with him. He makes the power fantasy feel accessible.
And judging from fan reactions online, people love it. The jokes about “Nobody to Normal to Nothing” aren’t mean spirited they’re affectionate. They’re a way of saying we’re on this ride with him.
Looking Ahead to Normal
That brings me to his next big swing: Normal. Odenkirk plays Ulysses, a substitute sheriff in a quiet Minnesota town that isn’t as quiet as it seems. A bank robbery spirals into a conspiracy involving the whole town, and once again, he’s the unlikely man in the middle.
Fans have already called it “Fargo meets Hot Fuzz,” which is honestly the best elevator pitch I’ve heard in years. And just like Nobody, it leans on the same Odenkirk strength: looking ordinary until he absolutely isn’t.
With Lena Headey and Henry Winkler rounding out the cast, I have no doubt the mix of drama, humor, and action will hit that sweet spot.
My Verdict
So where does Bob Odenkirk fit?
He’s not Keanu. He doesn’t move like a dancer.
He’s not Seagal. Thank God.
He’s closest to Liam Neeson, but with his own flavor.
If I had to create a new category, it would be this: The Reluctant Everyman Action Hero. A character who looks outmatched but keeps fighting anyway. A man whose greatest weapon isn’t his fists but his stubborn refusal to stop.
That’s Bob Odenkirk’s lane. And I think audiences in America and honestly around the world are hungry for it.
Final Thoughts
I started out laughing at the idea of Odenkirk as an action star. Now I’m not laughing I’m cheering. In a Hollywood landscape that often feels predictable, he’s carved out something fresh. He’s given older fans someone to root for and younger fans a reminder that you don’t have to look like a Marvel superhero to pull off great action.
So Keanu, Neeson, or Seagal? I say none of the above. Bob Odenkirk is writing his own category, and I can’t wait to see where Normal takes him next.
Soft Note for Readers
If you’re a fan of Odenkirk’s journey like I am, you’ll probably end up collecting the shirts, mugs, or posters inspired by Nobody and Normal. You can find plenty of cozy fan gear online and most sites offer 10% OFF with Free shipping for new customers (HERE). Just a little perk while we wait for the movie to drop.
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