The Gray Man, directed by the Russo Brothers (Avengers: End Game), has been one of the most anticipated action flicks of 2022. Just by looking at the action scenes in the film, you can tell that it is one of the most expensive Netflix original movies ever made, with a Rotten Tomatoes audience score reaching a whopping 90%. Based on Mark Greaney’s 2009 novel of the same name, the film starred Ryan Gosling as Sierra Six, a disposable CIA secret agent, and fan-favorite Chris Evans as Lloyd Hansen in an antagonistic role.
Despite leaving the audience disappointed by the lack of story development, the Russo Brothers have stated that they intend to expand the universe of The Gray Man into multiple films and even a spin-off. The first film did leave a few loose ends that needed to be addressed. While we’re at it, here’s what we hope to see in The Gray Man 2.
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Avik San: The Lone Wolf’s Return
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In spite of having little screen time, Avi San, a lethal assassin, played by Tamil movie star Dhanush, won the audience’s admiration. He’s equally skilled as Sierra Six and has a lot of potential to play a crucial role in the upcoming film(s). After learning that Llyod Hansen is determined to murder a young girl, we see him abandon the mission by handing over the Asset obtained by Six to Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas). It elevates him to a respectable position, and his impact throughout the film is enormous, leaving plenty of room to flesh out his character in future films.
In an interview with Insider, Russo Brothers confirmed his character’s return in the upcoming sequel. They stated:
Sierra Six in a New Mission
Although The Gray Man is based on Mark Greaney’s first novel, the source material was altered significantly. However, the story remains the same and will do so in future sequels. So, Netflix will adapt the second novel, On Target, for the sequel, and here is the synopsis for the second film:
“We’re fortunate enough to use Dhanush. We were not interested in him playing a one-off character who shows up just to be overcome by the lead in the film. He is as equally skilled and determined as Gosling is in the movie. He has a story that will allow him to come back into the narrative at some point — as his own hero.”
We could deduce from the synopsis that Ryan Gosling would play a pivotal role in the next film. On the other hand, he is adamant about protecting Claire, even if it means going up against the entire CIA. Ana de Armas, reprising her role as Dani Miranda, could help him overcome the obstacles and reveal the truth to the public once more. However, there is one more important detail the first film chose not to disclose, though it did drop a few hints during the film’s conversations.
“Court Gentry, (Gosling) aka the Gray Man, is back – and once again on the run from old friends and foes. Four years ago, Gentry was betrayed by his handlers in the CIA. Now, an old comrade, Russian arms merchant Sidorenko, returns to force him on a mission against his will: kill Sudan’s President Abboud, the supposed trigger for the Darfur genocide. But the CIA has its own plans for Abboud. With his ruthless employers on one side, his blackmailing former friends on the other, and a doomed mission ahead, Gentry would kill just to get out of this one alive.”
The Revelation of “Old Man”
While The Gray Man ended on a happy note, reuniting Claire and Sierra Six, there were a few loose ends that could be explored in future films. The identity of Old Man, whom Carmichael and Suzanne kept mentioning during their secret conversations, is the most prominent of them.
According to the books, Old Man is pulling the strings from behind the scenes and using Carmichael to commit crimes in order to achieve his personal goals. We can tell how dangerous he is from Carmichael’s words in the film: “You know, the last person who pissed off the old man ended up floating in the Potomac.” It piques our interest in the true identity of Old Man, who could be the same character from the first film or a completely new character working for the CIA. Only the future will reveal the riddles surrounding this mysterious character, as the author’s catalog contains over ten books.
Avik San’s backstory is unknown, and he could also be a pawn of Old Man, having refused to work for Llyod Hansen and not killing Dani Miranda when given the opportunity. On the other hand, Dani would play an essential role in the next film not only by providing information to Six but also by revealing the truth she knows. So far, she’s played it safe with Suzanne’s story to keep Claire safe, but by the end of The Gray Man, Six had rescued her, and Dani has no reason to hold back any longer.
Avik and Dani have already been confirmed to appear in the spin-off series, and they will also return in The Gray Man 2. All of these plot holes are actually hanging threads left by the Russo Brothers, who intend to reveal them in the sequel or subsequent films. As further mysteries await revelation, the story continues to unfold with new installments, and if you haven’t seen The Gray Man yet, it is now available on Netflix.
