Seeing Glen Powell on screen is never a bad idea. It was very recently when Netflix released his film Anyone But You on the streaming platform, and now another movie starring the actor is available on Netflix. Titled Hit Man, the movie has climbed to the top of Netflix’s film charts just days after its release. What makes the film so intriguing to watch is not just the fact that Glen looks so good in the lead role, but also because the story is based on an interesting true story.
The Netflix movie Hit Man is directed by Richard Linklater, who has co-written the screenplay with Glen Powell. The film also stars Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, and Retta in key roles. The story is based on the 2001 Texas Monthly magazine article of the same name by Skip Hollandsworth, which follows an undercover New Orleans police contractor who poses as a dependable hitman. Curious to know what this article was about and who is this real hitman. Here’s the true story that inspired the plot of the new Netflix film.
Hit Man: The true story that inspired Glen Powell’s character
The film revolves around the lives of a straight-laced professor, Gary Johnson (Glen Powell), who poses as a hitman and tries to save Madison’s (Adria Arjona) life. Sparks fly between them but things take a dramatic turn when layers of deceit turn their budding romance upside down. Get to know who the real Gary Johnson was.
So, what is the story of Gary Johnson?
Although the film’s plot is not too closely based on the true story, it is inspired by the Texas Monthly story. Powell’s character is inspired by the now-deceased Gary Johnson, who worked as a fake contract killer for the police. His story is set in the late 90s when Gary became a professional hitman in Houston. He helped more than 60 people, who hired him to kill their professional rivals or take out their former loved ones. Interestingly, not a single person he was contracted to kill ever died.
Gary Johnson, who was in his mid-50s, had a deal with the police where he only posed as a hitman so that the police could discreetly document the would-be killers’ confessions for evidence. Once they got the proof, the police would arrest the culprits before the murders ever transpired. As a part-time investigator for the Harris County district attorney’s office, he prevented assassinations, poisonings, and a large number of killings that Houston residents may have regretted. The psychology professor, who turned into a hitman by the night, would don a secret identity and persona of individuals like Mike Caine, Jody Eagle, or Chris Buck. However, in the Netflix movie starring Glen Powell, Johnson’s story is less of a crime thriller and more of a romantic comedy.
Did Johnson also meet a woman as a hitman?
The Texas Monthly article mentioned a case where Johnson was “out of character”. He met a woman at a Starbucks in Houston who revealed how she was in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. Having no other way to deal with this situation, she decided that she wanted him dead. Johnson came in contact with the woman when she asked a Starbucks employee if they knew anyone who could do this job and the employee called the police, who called Johnson. The only difference with this case was that this time Johnson did not help the police catch the culprit, but helped the woman instead. He led her to a social service agency and made sure she got all the help she needed to safely quit her relationship and secure a place in a women’s shelter. The film also talks about Gary’s most bizarre cases including a teenager who tried to pay him in video games and all the Houston ladies who wanted to murder their older, rich husbands to gain access to their wealth. The real Gary Johnson died in 2022, just before the filming began.
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All Images: Courtesy IMDb
This article first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Is Hit Man based on a real story?
Yes, it is loosely based on a true story.
– What streaming service is Hit Man on?
You can watch the film on Netflix.
– Is Hit Man 2024 a good movie?
Yes, it is currently in the top movies section on Netflix.
– How much of Hit Man is true?
The plot of the movie is inspired by a true story.
