Normal’s Jess McLeod and Derek Kolstad talk Bob Odenkirk, potential sequel ideas, and the importance of including a character like Alex.
Starring Bob Odenkirk as a man thrust back into a life of violence, Normal grounds its explosive fight sequences in a deeply felt, character-driven narrative. Set against the stark, freezing backdrop of small-town Minnesota (brought to life in the snowy trenches of Winnipeg), Normal explores the layers behind a seemingly quiet community.
Mama’s Geeky spoke with writer Derek Kolstad and star Jess McLeod to discuss the creative process that brought this world to life. They talk about what it is like working with an icon like Bob Odenkirk, the physical toll of filming in negative 30-degree temperatures, and the importance of authentic representation in the action genre.
Jess McLeod & Derek Kolstad Talk ‘Normal’
Mama’s Geeky: Derek, you have worked with Bob Odenkirk before, but this was Jess’s first time. What was the experience like for both of you?
Derek Kolstad: You know, we never stopped talking after the first Nobody, and in fact, we became friends, and that’s not always the case on movies. He’s a joy, because he brings all that he can bring, and expects you to do the same, and when you do, it’s a safe environment for creativity.
Jess McLeod: For me, I was like, obviously I heard so much lore about this man. He’s such an icon, and I feel like I just didn’t, I didn’t really know exactly what to expect. I feel like he just is so, he’s so generous. That’s, I think, the word that I keep coming back to with him. He’s just such a generous person to work with.
Mama’s Geeky: The film looks incredibly cold. Was that real snow and how did it affect the performances?
Derek Kolstad: For a couple of the sequences there on Main Street, it was getting so cold outside, we brought it inside. But there were days where I was not envious of the actors. It’s Winnipeg, and I remember going to my car and asking one of the drivers, it’s negative 30 degrees Fahrenheit. This is cold, right? And he just goes, “Yeah”.
Jess McLeod: The truck scene, we was in a studio that was so freezing cold, and I had to be drunk in the scene, and I do think, like, my jaw stopped really working at a point, because I was so cold, and I think it helped.
Mama’s Geeky: Derek, Normal feels unique despite your history with massive action franchises. How do you approach building these worlds?
Derek Kolstad: I want a character that you can convince the audience is more complex than they are, simply because you have 90 minutes, and yet you care about, and you want to see win. I like that he [Bob] brings a frailty, both of psyche and physicality, yet he can pull both off. If you look at John Wick, if you look at Nobody, those first acts are pretty long for the genre, because we wanted to make sure that, like, you get it? Like, this guy? Let’s root for him.
Mama’s Geeky: Jess, what was your initial reaction to the script and the character of Alex?
Jess McLeod: I just couldn’t believe that this character existed in this world. I just went, like, that’s new to me, and this feels like a character that I really see myself in, in such, like, a fun, action-heavy movie. I really pushed to be seen for this role. I was initially auditioning for a different one, and I just really felt connected to them. It’s been so fun to delve into this person, and, like, the sort of experience of trans people in the American military, and I found all of that really interesting, and I just feel like I’ve never seen this character before.
Mama’s Geeky: Why was it important to include a character like Alex in this small-town setting?
Derek Kolstad: Everyone thinks of Small Town America as a certain Mayberry-esque subset, and every small town has their colorful cast of characters, but what I loved about Alex was that they were Alex. We often talk about how in genre, it’s the only place where you can say something without saying something, and I think what we said here was pretty important.
Jess McLeod: There’s this sort of, obviously, nobody in this town is normal, but Alex is not hiding that, and that’s kind of why I think Ulysses is so, feels so attached to them, because he also feels like an outsider, but they’re not pretending to be anything but that, which I think is really cool.
Mama’s Geeky: Is there potential for a sequel?
Derek Kolstad: If we are blessed enough to do a sequel, I know what the next four are, but that’s just the way my brain works. Ben [the director]and I had a breakfast going over, like, “I think the sequel is this,” and after two hours, I could probably just go write it next week.
Jess McLeod: Oh, I guess if, like, they pay me enough, I’m available. Yeah, obviously. I would love to. I mean, it’s such a fun movie.
Be sure to watch our full video interview for more insights from Jess McLeod and Derek Kolstad on filming Normal.
About Normal
For Sheriff Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk), his provisional posting to the quaint Midwestern American town of Normal was meant to be a welcome respite from both his marital woes and recent moral injuries in the line of duty. But when a botched bank robbery interrupts the municipality’s tranquil pace, a dark secret is inadvertently exposed, and Ulysses soon discovers that the town is anything but its namesake.
Normal comes to theaters everywhere on April 17.
NEXT: Normal Review [SXSW 2026]
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.