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Following its open-ended and high-octane conclusion, Guns Akimbo’s sequel shouldn’t unfold in a movie but in a television series.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Guns Akimbo.
As with most Hollywood action movies these days, Guns Akimbo tries to end on a note that sets up a franchise. Daniel Radcliffe’s Miles is a keyboard warrior who attacks Skizm online, a group that pits assassins against each other in live streams for people to comment on, and most importantly, bet on globally.
This results in the American division finding Miles, torturing him and nailing guns into his hand so he can be hunted or kill Nix (Samara Weaving), the tournament’s most ruthless assassin. By the time the film ends, though, Miles does a total reverse and becomes a soldier on a mission to take Skizm out. So with a potential franchise in-mind, it’s clear that the follow-up should be done as a series rather than a movie.
Nix helps Miles, grooming him to become an elite killer when she realizes Skizm and their boss, Riktor, helped murder her family. Their web runs deep, with gangs, corrupt cops and politicians all in their pockets, so Skizm has a lot of power. In the finale, Miles and Nix bring down the American chapter, but Nix sacrifices herself as a suicide bomber. Miles throws Riktor off a building and after barely surviving the ordeal, he turns into this John Wick-like hitman with a similar-looking car, riding off to bring the other chapters down across the world.
Miles has files on Europe, Asia and just about everywhere he needs to be to fulfill his promise to Nix. Skizm has to be burnt to the ground as it’s infecting society, but while this is an interesting concept, it’s been done before. John Wick had Keanu Reeeves’ titular character traipsing around the globe on a somewhat similar mission when the Continental turned on him. Having Miles chasing these ghosts would seem redundant in a 90-minute film, and it may end up feeling repetitive.
Now, this isn’t a knock on those franchises because that’s their essence, but Guns Akimbo should differentiate itself. Its dark humor and gory violence is already a mix of Deadpool, Wanted and Kick–Ass, so a TV series would allow the creative team enough time to map out Miles’ journey. Nova’s scared to be with him as well, as she’s seen the monster he’s become, but she knows it’s for the greater good, ergo why she’s immortalized him in his very own comic. He still loves her so an eight-episodic show can focus on her getting over her fears as the artist does love Miles too; she’s just afraid of the world he’s involved in. This adds depth to his character, gives him a purpose and a reason to get out the game.
In addition, this would allow viewers enough time for him to meet allies and villains, including the cops who are hunting him. Fans could also emotionally connect to them, which didn’t happen with Riktor. Miles needs someone formidable, not a villain with just punch-lines, so this provides the chance to flesh out their backstories as well, upping the intimidation factor. After all, there’s only so much one can take when it comes to Michael Bay-esque gunfights and explosions.
A series creates room for nuanced character studies, showing what makes these assassins tick other than the love for the hunt. There’s even more room to dive into the politics of it all, with the elites in society actually behind Skizm, treating the common man as pets. It’s something relatable and something that happens often, so Miles is becoming a symbol, all as he aims to bring an institution down. After all, Miles hates gunplay, war profiteering and capitalism, so a TV show can make him a true movement, connecting with the pulse of the oppressed, as opposed to random prey fighting off predators to stay alive in a world of fiends.
Written and directed by Jason Lei Howden, Guns Akimbo stars Daniel Radcliffe, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Mark Rowley, Colin Moy Ned Dennehy and Samara Weaving. It’s now available on VOD.
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