Hulu subscribers can now stream one of director Denis Villeneuve’s most acclaimed action films. Hitmanstarring Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin, was recently added to the streaming service.
Written by Yellow stone creator Taylor Sheridan, Hitman is an action thriller that follows an FBI special agent (Blunt) who is recruited by a government task force to take down the leader of a powerful and brutal Mexican drug cartel. The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, earning a score of 92 percent on review site Rotten Tomatoes. Hitman was also an awards darling, receiving numerous Academy Award and BAFTA nominations. In addition to its critical acclaim, Hitman was a modest box office success, grossing $85 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.
Sicario: Day of the Soldiera sequel without the involvement of Villeneuve or Blunt, was released in 2018. Del Toro and Brolin reprised their roles from the first film as CIA-trained assassin Alejandro Gillick and CIA SAC/SOG officer Matt Graver, with Isabela Moner joining the cast as the daughter of a powerful Mexican drug lord. Sheridan returned to write the screenplay. Although it was not as successful as Hitman, Soldier's Day It was nevertheless successful, receiving favorable reviews from critics and grossing $75.8 million at the worldwide box office.
Sicario 3 remains in development
Another episode in the Hitman franchise has been in development since 2018. The last update on the third installment came in October 2023, when producers Molly Smith and Trent Luckinbill revealed that Mission: Impossible Director Christopher McQuarrie has been attached in an undisclosed capacity, though Smith has hinted that the filmmaker may end up directing Hitman 3.
“We don't know who's directing yet,” Smith said. “It's all going to be a matter of timing. We obviously have a lot of great partners, everyone from Taylor Sheridan to Chris McQuarrie as partners, but it's going to be a matter of timing and what aligns with everyone's schedule.”
What does the future hold for Denis Villeneuve?
Since then, Villeneuve has directed four films Hitman was released in 2015: I arrive (2016), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Dune (2021), and Dune: Part Two (2024). The next film from the acclaimed director is a third Dune film based on the novel by Frank Herbert Dune: Messiah novel. Development on the third installment began in 2024, although filming won't begin until Villeneuve feels he has a “strong script,” explaining, “The thing I want to avoid is not having something ready. I've never done that, and now I feel like it could be dangerous because of the excitement. We have to make sure all the ideas are on paper.”
Dune Screenwriter Eric Roth shared in November 2023 that he had just finished writing a film for Villeneuve. While he didn't reveal the name of the film, fans have strongly speculated that he was referring to the 1973 sci-fi novel Appointment with Ramawhich Villeneuve mentioned in March 2022 as a candidate for one of his next projects. The acclaimed director has previously described Appointment with Rama HOW “I arrive on steroids.” It is currently unknown what Villeneuve's next project will be, which is currently scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, according to Warner Bros.
Hitman is currently streaming on Hulu.
Source: Hulu