With production on The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard officially underway, Deadline has reported that Antonio Banderas (Genius) has joined the film while Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) will reprise his role from the first film. The film sees Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek also reprising their roles.
The character Banderas is set to play is currently unknown, but Grant will reappear as the drug-addicted Mr. Seifart, a corporate client of Reynolds’ Michael Bryce who he hired after his career downfall. Grant only appeared at the beginning of the film and whether he has a larger role in the sequel or is just another hapless target remains to be seen.
Directed once again by Patrick Hughes, the sequel will take place on the Amalfi coast as it “follows the mismatched, high-octane trio who are unwillingly pulled onto the side of the good guys as they battle to save Europe from a vengeful and powerful zealot with a dangerously over-developed sense of national pride.”
Also set to star in the film is Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) as an interpol agent looking to prevent a cyber attack in Europe, along with Morgan Freeman (The Nutcracker and the Four Realms) who has been cast in an as-yet-unrevealed role.
Grant will be seen in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode IX while Banderas has a role in Fox’s X-Men spin-off The New Mutants.
