Exploring the duple - life story of Gary Johnson , the brainchild behind Netflix ’s new movie , Hit Man .

Glenn Powell’s new movieHit Manis a trip. Warning: Spoiler ahead!

The film keep abreast the life of Gary Johnson , a psych and philosophy professor at the University of New Orleans . But , he also works as an undercover police police officer and charter on a spear as a fake torpedo after one of his cop colleagues gets suspended .

He takes on a variety of different clients, whom he hopes will confess their murder-for-hire plans.

But once he meets an sadly married woman named Madison , the trajectory of this gig change importantly . She attempt to hire him as a contract bridge cause of death to take out her abusive husband , only for him to fall in honey with her in the outgrowth . Then , he actually taste to help her take out her abusive husband .

What’s even more shocking is that the movie is based on a real story.

With that in mind, let’s dive into some of the mostinteresting factssurrounding the movie.

1.Gary Johnson was a staff investigator for the Harris County district.

Though the movie took place in New Orleans , the existent Gary Johnson was found in Houston . Johnson help police in gaining evidence on people looking to hire a contract killer . According to Hollandsworth’sarticle , informants would evidence cops when they screw someone wanted to hire a contract bridge killer . Johnson , who wore a wire , would be introduced to prospective " clients , " whom he hoped to excerpt a confession from and hopefully , secure a article of faith .

2.Johnson said that he investigated upwards of 300 murder-for-hire allegations between the late 80s and 2001.

3.While an undercover cop, he believed that his prolificacy was a result of his communication skills.

Johnson was described as one of the best clandestine hitmen in Houston due to his self - assured nature and calm when encounter " clients . " " What I ’m really there to do is aid people in their communication skills , " hesaidin theTexas Monthlyarticle . " That ’s all my job is – to help mass open up , to get them to say what they really need , to disclose to me their deep desires . " Ultimately , he was a good listener , which became the most vital aspect of his success charge per unit on the caper .

4.He told people that he worked in “human resources.”

take the nature of his task , it was hard for him to expatiate on his vocation choices to others , whether neighbor or women he ’d fit at a line , according to Hollandsworth . He often would separate them that he act in human resources at a ship’s company downtown as a way to deflect make to delve into details about his professional life .

5.His ex-wife described him as a loner.

Though Gary ’s interpersonal acquirement were doubtlessly better than the average person , he reportedly had difficultness maintaining relationships . He had been divorced three time by 2001 . His second married woman draw him as a loner . " He ’ll show up at party and have a good time , and he ’s always friendly , but he likes being alone , being quiet . It ’s astonishing to me that he can turn on this other personality that makes multitude call up he is a vicious killer . "

6.Gary never actually killed anyone.

While the film ’s ending suggest otherwise , Gary never actually murder anyone in literal lifetime . At the end of the movie , they clarify , " We made that part up . "

7.“All pie is good pie” was a real line.

8.Gary Johnson passed away in 2022, according toTudum.

9.He used a multitude of aliases and adjusted his persona for each client. However, Glenn Powell dramatized it with absurd disguises.

10.Glenn Powell chose not to speak to Gary Johnson in the early stages of filming.

11.Madison (Adria Arjona) is based on a real woman, but there’s no confirmation she had an intimate relationship with Johnson.

12.The movie was initially supposed to be set in Houston, where the real Gary Johnson worked.

13.Johnson was once shot on the job.

While he landed his first gig as a fake contract bridge killer in 1989 , Johnson reportedly worked humble face as an investigator for the D.A. , where he ’d help with motorcar theft case and gathering grounds . However , in 1986 , he got shot during an arrest , sustaining injuries to his wooden leg and foot , which go forth him out of work for a week .

14.He was described as “the Laurence Olivier of the field” in the Texas Monthly article.

15.The highly publicized arrest of Lynn Kilroy appears to be referenced during the sequence of arrests in the movie’s first 25 minutes.

16.Johnson worked as a professor at a community college twice a week.

17.Interestingly enough, Johnson initially wanted to be a psychology professor.

While he was a clearly gifted investigator , Johnson never had much of a desire to engage a career in law enforcement . In fact , Hollandsworthstatesthat his " dreaming was to teach psychological science in college . " The article continues , " He thought he would be happiest analyzing human behavior from a safe , donnish view . " Johnson have a master ’s degree in psychological science after taking night course at   McNeese State University in his rest home state of Louisiana . However , once he moved to Houston in 1981 with aspirations to inscribe the University of Houston ’s doctoral program in psychology , he was deny and began working for the D.A.

18.His experience in law enforcement began during the war in Vietnam.

As remark earlier , Johnson already had experience in law enforcement before a prolific career as a fake contract slayer . He serve as a   military policeman manage convoys in Vietnam . When he pass home , he work as a Sheriff ’s deputy in Louisiana , then relocated to Port Arthur , Texas , where he started his body of work as an underground officer trying to break drug dealers . " I do n’t cerebrate the drug dealer ever suspected I might be a copper because my personality was so weird to get down with , ” he said , displaying an unconditioned skill in his underground study .

19.Gary Johnson personal life was much less exciting than his professional one.

Glen Powell and Richard Linklater pose together on the red carpet at the Netflix "Hit Man" event.

Gary Johnson in a courtroom testifying.

Gary Johnson truly enjoys his pie.

Title card that reads, "Dedicated to Gary Johnson, 1947 - 2022."

Gary Johnson (Glenn Powell) in disguise.

Glen Powell, a man in a white suit, smiles at an event. Two people hold signs saying "Stop trying to make Glen Powell happen" and "It's never gonna happen."

Gary Johnson and Madison in bed.

Richard Linklater in a brown suit stands outside a theater displaying a marquee that reads "Richard Linklater's Hit Man." City buildings and a lit sign in the background

Gary Johnson in the car with Jasper.

Jo-Ann Robinson as the wealthy woman seemingly based on Lynn Kilroy.

Glenn Powell as Gary Johnson teaching a course.

Gary Johnson (Glenn Powell) eating with two cats eating near the sink.