Short version: the Hitman live-action show that was once in development for Hulu is officially canceled. No slow-burn mystery here, just bad news for anyone who wanted Agent 47 on their streaming queue.
How we got here
The adaptation was first announced in 2017, with Hulu and Fox 21 working on the project and Derek Kolstad, the writer behind the John Wick films, on board to lead the effort. For years fans waited to see whether the clipped-suit, barcode-neck assassin would make the jump from controller to camera.
Kolstad’s update at SXSW
At the South by Southwest premiere of his new film, Kolstad gave a blunt update: the series is not moving forward. He used a phrase that leaves little room for hopeful interpretations. In his words:
No... It’s a little bit of a dagger in the chest. Who knows nowadays, but it’s dead in the water. But, man, I love that thing, because I love that game and I love that character. But the problem is, I can write a screenplay, but no one’s going to go out and buy the screenplay. You’ve got to make the movie, you’ve got to make the show. But nothing’s happening with that man, sadly.
Why this matters
Kolstad’s point is plain: writing a script is one thing, getting people to produce and fund a show is another. Even with a known franchise and a writer who helped shape a modern action staple, the business side did not line up. That leaves the Hitman TV adaptation shelved for now.
Other Hitman and gaming bits
- IO Interactive recently added cross-progression to Hitman: World of Assassination, so your progress moves with you across platforms.
- In related gaming news, the upcoming 007 First Light reportedly borrows combat ideas from the Batman: Arkham games and Uncharted series.
Short, sharp, and sad for fans: the live-action Hitman series is not happening at the moment. If that changes, Kolstad and the rest of us will want to know who gets to wear the suit.
