Here’s what « Hit Man » got right about the real Gary Johnson, and what they made up for the sake of the story
Hit men themselves may not be a real thing, but the story behind Glen Powell and Richard Linklater’s new film “Hit Man” actually is true — mostly. As with any movie, they took some creative liberties
Now streaming on Netflix after a limited theatrical run, the film centers on Gary Johnson (Glen Powell), a college psychology professor who helps out the New Orleans police department on the side by posing as a hit man for hire to catch people on tape planning a murder. He tailors each hit man to the prospective client, wearing many disguises in his tenure.
When he meets potential client Madison (Adria Arjona), he’s immediately smitten and steers her away from having her husband murdered, so his colleagues don’t arrest her. From there, the two fall in love, but then…
So, what actually happened? What didn’t? Let’s break it down.
Note: The following story contains spoilers for “Hit Man.”
Yes. The idea for “Hit Man” was inspired by a Texas Monthly article that Powell came across years ago, telling the story of Gary Johnson, a real guy. He did indeed live alone with his two cats, and was actually a professor who taught psychology.
