Netflix’s Hit Man and Gary Johnson’s IRL story, compared – how much of the new film is true? Glen Powell plays the philosophy teacher and fake hitman, but portrays a different ending than reality …
- For 30 years, since 1989, Johnson lived a double life as a philosophy teacher and fake hitman who helped the New Orleans Police Department with sting operations
- Screenwriters have tried to turn the story into a film since 2001 – now, Richard Linklater and Powell have finally seen success, selling their film to Netflix for US$20 million
The new film follows Johnson, who spends his mornings teaching philosophy at a university in New Orleans and the rest of his time helping the New Orleans Police Department conduct sting operations on people who want to hire a hitman.
When Jasper (Austin Amelio), a crooked cop, is pulled out of the sting operation, Johnson takes over as the fake hitman. He excels, and the police ask him to become their phoney hitman permanently.
In 2001, Texas Monthly staff writer Skip Hollandsworth wrote a feature article about Johnson, his double life and his success as a fake hitman – a role he played for 30 years, starting in 1989.
Screenwriters have been trying to turn the story into a film since 2001, but none have succeeded – until now.
Hit Man director Richard Linklater and Powell co-wrote the story, focusing on Johnson’s relationship with a woman he tries to capture in a sting operation.
Linklater told Texas Monthly in May that the producers spent US$10 million or US$11 million (he doesn’t know for sure) to produce the film independently. Last year, Netflix bought Hit Man for US$20 million to stream on its platform.
Here’s what to know about the ending and how it differs from the true story.
