Bob Odenkirk’s New Action Thriller Is Basically Hot Fuzz In America

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Even though Hot Fuzz is only the second film in Edgar Wright’s brilliant Cornetto trilogy, that fact says a lot about how good all three movies are. Sandwiched between Shaun of the Dead and the often-overlooked The World’s End, Hot Fuzz follows the story of Nicholas Angel and brilliantly showcases Gloucestershire while playfully referencing classic action movies, all with Wright’s signature comedic style.

The Cornetto trilogy—made up of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End—was a huge hit and greatly influenced filmmaking in both the UK and the US. The three creators—Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost—have all since found success in their careers, and the films themselves remain popular with new audiences. In fact, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz have inspired many similar movies over the years.

Bob Odenkirk’s Normal Follows A Very Similar Premise To Hot Fuzz

In the movie Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg plays Nicholas Angel, a highly skilled London police officer transferred to the quiet, sleepy town of Sandford, where serious crime is almost unheard of. He starts to settle into his new, less demanding role – dealing with things like stray swans and village festivals – and even begins to become popular with the townspeople. However, Angel soon discovers a secret, large-scale conspiracy hidden within Sandford. It doesn’t take long before he’s caught up in intense shootouts with a surprising cast of characters, including the local priest and pub owner.

Bob Odenkirk’s series, Normal, shares a similar premise with the novel. Odenkirk stars as Ulysses, a police officer who relocates to the quiet, small town of Normal, Minnesota—a place where big crimes seem impossible. He starts to adjust to the slower lifestyle and build relationships with the town’s residents, but soon finds himself caught up in a town-wide conspiracy. Like the story that inspired it, Normal escalates into a conflict where Ulysses faces off against the armed citizens of the town.

While both films share similarities, they aren’t identical. Hot Fuzz is generally funnier, and Normal focuses more on action, though you’ll find elements of both in each movie. Normal also has a different plot with unexpected turns compared to Hot Fuzz.

Even small moments, like Ulysses taking time to think about his life now that he’s living a calmer one, really resonate. It’s similar to Bob Odenkirk, who, like Simon Pegg, is a comedic actor successfully taking on action roles.

Both movies center around the idea of an outsider facing off against a hidden, tight-knit community in a small town. Hot Fuzz did this so brilliantly and originally that watching Normal inevitably brings to mind the over-the-top action and imagery of a James Bond film colliding with Shakespeare.

Normal Is Probably As Close As We’re Getting To Hot Fuzz 2

Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg have repeatedly expressed a desire to collaborate again, and because their creative styles blend so well, any future projects will likely feel similar to their ‘Cornetto trilogy’ films. However, the people who made those movies have stated there won’t be direct sequels to ‘Shaun of the Dead’ or ‘Hot Fuzz’.

In 2023, Simon Pegg responded to requests for sequels to Shaun of the Dead or a continuation of Hot Fuzz, but said he wasn’t interested in revisiting those films or characters. He explained that he believes wanting more of the same thing is often just an easy option, rather than a creative one.

I’ve always hoped for a Hot Fuzz 2, but I realize it could never really revisit Sandford. It would have to be Nicholas Angel sent to a new quiet town, stumbling onto another surprisingly large criminal conspiracy. Sadly, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. That’s why Normal feels like the next best thing – it really captures the spirit of Hot Fuzz. It’s got Simon Pegg as the lead and Edgar Wright directing, and those two are just essential to that magic!

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2026-02-23 22:29