Like the protagonist of”Nobody 2,”A timid man named Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) who conceals his identity as a nearly unstoppable assassin, the director Timo Tjahjanto has a background. Rather than a history of numerous dead enemies, Tjahjanto’s past includes directing, in Indonesia, some of the most impressively violent and blood-soaked action films ever made. And now, with “Nobody 2,” he has finally arrived in Hollywood.
In Indonesia, Tjahjanto began his career collaborating with Kimo Stamboel as a filmmaking team, known as the Mo Brothers, on films such as “Macabre” and “Headshot” – movies that enthusiastically blended horror, film noir, and action elements. His debut film as a solo director, “May the Devil Take You” from 2018, was a straightforward horror film, whereas “The Night Comes for Us,” also released in 2018, is an extremely wild action movie that brought together two stars from “The Raid” (Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim) and subjected them to intense challenges. Tjahjanto also collaborated with “The Raid” director Gareth Evans on a memorable segment for the horror anthology “V/H/S 2.”
He later released movies in 2020 (“May the Devil Take You Too”), 2022 (“The Big 4”), and 2024 (“The Shadow Strays”), which had its world debut at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. These projects solidified his status as one of the most dynamic directors currently active, and with his deal with Netflix, Tjahjanto’s distinctive style reached a broad international viewership.
However, “Nobody 2” serves as a test to see if his original style can adapt to a theatrical mainstream Hollywood blockbuster released by a traditional studio like Universal and featuring well-known A-list actors. Tjahjanto spoke with the Muara Digital Team about what attracted him to the project, differences in cultural approaches to filmmaking, and what he has planned next.
Getting “Nobody 2”
When Tjahjanto’s representative provided him with the script for “Nobody 2,” which continues the story from the 2021 surprise success that earned over $57 million despite a $10 million budget, the director became interested. In the follow-up, Hutch and his family, trying to have a holiday, get involved in a small town’s ties to a brutal mob boss (portrayed skillfully by Sharon Stone).
Tjahjanto was impressed by the tone, which was significantly more upbeat compared to the films he has directed in Indonesia. “There’s a sense of family warmth in it,” he mentioned. “And that’s not a negative aspect, as the movie revolves around a man realizing he isn’t an isolated individual. He discovers that his family is essential for him to be a complete person.”
The subject of a family was something that deeply attracted him, particularly because he had to leave his own family to create the film.
“I went to film ‘Nobody’ and when I returned to Jakarta, my eight-year-old had suddenly turned nine, and she was a different person,” Tjahjanto said.
He frequently talked about this with Odenkirk, who also serves as a producer for the movie. Odenkirk’s childhood visits to a water park in Wisconsin served as inspiration for the storyline in “Nobody 2.” “I felt I had the option to create a dark, violent film or something that is somehow heartfelt,” Tjahjanto mentioned. “I want to create something that leaves people feeling positive after watching it.”
To Tjahjanto, “Nobody 2” represented a challenge. “Creating this, which is outside my usual comfort zone, was actually a great beginning,” he mentioned regarding his first venture into Hollywood. He has already planned his next project—a sequel to the Jason Statham action film “The Beekeeper,” set for Amazon MGM Studios. Tjahjanto acknowledges that “Beekeeper 2” will be a “darker” movie but one that he likely wouldn’t have been able to handle without his work on “Nobody 2.”
One of the methods through which “Nobody 2” will help Tjahjanto get ready for his upcoming project is the experience he gains from collaborating with a well-known actor. In the case of “Nobody 2,” that individual is Stone.
Tjahjanto was a big fan of Stone’s western “The Quick and the Dead,” which she co-created with Sam Raimi. “It was amazing to hear that Sharon Stone was willing to take on this role and return to what made her a standout in genre films,” Tjahjanto shared. “Sharon is a very intelligent woman. She always has a deep understanding of what makes a character compelling. She would often say, ‘Hey, Timo, if I do this with the knife, it will feel much more intense.’ And she was correct. Her instincts are usually spot on. I’m learning quickly from her.” He’ll carry these lessons into “Beekeeper 2,” without a doubt, and in future projects as well.
Action Adjustment
Collaborating with Tjahjanto on “Nobody 2” was another high-octane film expert – David Leitch.
Leitch began his career in stunt work before moving on to second unit photography and eventually feature film directing. He co-directed the first “John Wick” with his long-time collaborator Chad Stahelski, and later directed projects such as “Atomic Blonde,” “Bullet Train,” and “The Fall Guy.” Leitch and his production company 87North were responsible for both “Nobody” films, bringing their own distinctive approach to action filmmaking that emphasizes clear geography, well-defined spatial relationships, and more fluid camera movement.
Tjahjanto called Leitch “one of the top action directors,” and mentioned that their approaches to action filmmaking complemented each other well. “He’s surprisingly very giving when it comes to understanding what I’m at ease with, regarding how I want to present my action,” Tjahjanto stated. “And he typically acts more as a supportive guide if I’m unsure, instead of instructing me on what to do.”
The filmmaker characterized Leitch, who co-produced the movie with his wife and business partner Kelly McCormick, as consistently present and observant—absorbing everything and monitoring how Tjahjanto was advancing with the project. “He’s always a supportive producer,” Tjahjanto remarked. When he found himself saying, “I guess I’m satisfied with this,” it was Leitch who would respond, “Why not take it a little further?”
There’s a scene in the film where the villains surround the waterpark where Hutch is hiding. Leitch proposed an idea where Hutch installs spikes on a water slide to eliminate some of the antagonists. Tjahjanto recalls Leitch saying, “We already have a water slide here. Why not use it to our advantage?” “All we need are a few spikes, and we can recreate, like, people’s worst fear, which is, you know, having a nail lodged in your leg while sliding down the water. But this is the extreme version of that,” Tjahjanto explained.
Leitch, according to Tjahjanto, is “the type of person who gets excited when you pull off the explosion and then you see him acting like a kid, he’s so thrilled. I love that about him.”
Learning Curves
The shift from how Tjahjanto was accustomed to directing films in Indonesia to working on a Western production wasn’t entirely smooth. He mentioned that “Nobody 2” was a project where he gained significant insight—mainly “the contrast between how we operate in Asia and how Hollywood handles things.” Tjahjanto further noted, “I believe the key is always to combine the best elements from both sides.”
Although he values the structure of Hollywood, he favors the unified approach found in Indonesia. “Alright, once we agree on this concept, let’s all proceed as one,” he stated.
As Tjahjanto explained, Hollywood is more fragmented, sometimes even physically, in its methods, which he experienced with his second unit crew. Rather than being frustrated by it, he found the second unit process—where a smaller team films elements like close-ups or parts of entire action scenes—to be “the most intriguing.” “I’ll be filming Bob Odenkirk on the water slide, while our skilled second unit member will be capturing John Ortiz [who plays the water park owner entangled in Stone’s criminal network] taking out several people in the ball pit,” Tjahjanto mentioned.
In Indonesia, he would film everything. Tjahjanto joked that he would shoot a tire moving along asphalt, and thus asked the second unit crew how they were managing such shots. “I’d just handle it myself. It’s a completely different approach here,” Tjahjanto explained.
Occasionally, it’s beneficial to have someone else take the shot as the tire rolls down the street.
What’s Next
Tjahjanto mentioned that, as he is set to direct “Beekeeper 2,” he’s concerned about being seen as “the sequel guy.” However, what truly attracted him to the project was Statham.
This comes from my big fan of the ‘Crank’ films,” Tjahjanto mentioned. “Statham is one of those actors who are secretly underappreciated in an odd way, as he has a lot of presence through his physicality but he’s also very humorous.
Statham’s role in the movies, according to Tjahjanto, “is a version of the Punisher,” the Marvel Comics character recognized for administering harsh justice (In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this character is portrayed by Jon Berenthal).
What attracts me about this one is, particularly, that you’re going to encounter some truly impressive antagonists this time. I’m aiming to push the limits a bit further, making the villains feel more…manga-Influenced in certain aspects. And some of the choreography we have in mind is going to be really, really impressive,” Tjahjanto explained. When we joked that Statham killed 80 people in the first “Beekeeper,” Tjahjanto, without a pause, said, “This time he’s going to kill 82 people.”
Tjahjanto is firm in his decision not to remain in Hollywood, creating sequels for well-known western films indefinitely. Recently, on social media, he expressed his wish to go back to Indonesia and concentrate on original films he has built from scratch, including producing additional horror movies.
I’m attempting to find a balance, simply because I do miss taking photos with my friends in Indonesia,” Tjahjanto mentioned. “Also, I could benefit from some time spent with my children. That will help.
However, there is one franchise that might keep Tjahjanto in place.
If someone suddenly tells me, ‘Timo, they’re offering you the chance to make a ‘Terminator’ movie, then I’ll say goodbye, Indonesia,” Tjahjanto said. “I would do ‘Terminator’ anytime, anywhere.
One of the reasons he was drawn to the film industry was due to his childhood watching Arnold Schwarzenegger movies (He mentioned a reference to Schwarzenegger’s “Total Recall,” set on Mars, earlier in the discussion.). Tjahjanto has also supported more disputed films in the series, such as “Terminator: Dark Fate” and “Terminator: Genisys.” “I believe ‘Dark Fate’ is an excellent movie. I really enjoy them, and I think in some capacity, Arnold could still be involved in the ‘The Terminator’ universe,” Tjahjanto stated. “Let’s hope for the best.”
In other words, he will return.
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