New Movie From Ben Wheatley Starring Bob Odenkirk Gets UK Release Date

Film Feature by Chris Olson

Vertigo Releasing has officially slated Normal for a theatrical release in the UK and Ireland. Directed by the ever-unpredictable Ben Wheatley and starring the incomparable Bob Odenkirk, this high-octane thriller is set to hit the big screen on Friday 15th May 2026. For those of us who prefer our action with a side of grit and a dash of dark wit, this date cannot come soon enough.

Odenkirk, fresh from the critical triumphs of Better Call Saul and the bone-crunching success of Nobody, steps into the boots of Ulysses. He is an interim sheriff in the deceptively quiet town of Normal, Minnesota (though the locals might argue the geography), looking for a simple life to escape a past that clearly isn't finished with him. However, "normal" is a relative term.

When a bank robbery goes south, Ulysses pulls back the curtain on a conspiracy that would make Hitchcock blush. It turns out the town is a secret storage hub for the Yakuza, thanks to a deal brokered by the Mayor—played by the legendary Henry Winkler. The cast list alone is a cinephile's dream, featuring Lena Headey, Ryan Allen, and Billy MacLellan.

Free Fire official film trailer dir. Ben Wheatley

As someone who has followed Wheatley’s career from the unsettling halls of Kill List to the stylistic carnage of Free Fire, I find the prospect of him directing a script penned by John Wick creator Derek Kolstad to be tantalising. Wheatley has a unique ability to capture the visceral nature of violence while keeping a firm grip on character-driven storytelling. Pairing that with Odenkirk’s "everyman-turned-warrior" persona feels like lightning in a bottle.

There is something uniquely British about Wheatley's sensibilities that I expect will translate brilliantly to this American Midwestern setting. He often finds the horror and the humour in the mundane, and a town named "Normal" seems like the perfect playground for his brand of beautiful mayhem.

Despite the release date being set in stone, we are still currently in the dark regarding the visual style of the piece, as the first trailer hasn't been released yet. I am eagerly anticipating that first teaser; I want to see how Wheatley captures the "eerily quiet" atmosphere of the town before the bullets inevitably start flying.

While the theatrical run begins in May, the film is also expected to land on Sky Cinema as a Sky Original later in the year, ensuring that even those who miss the initial carnage will have a chance to catch up. For now, Friday 15th May is the date to circle in your diaries. If Odenkirk’s previous forays into action are anything to go by, we are in for a ride that is anything but normal.