A professor who poses as a hitman to catch his clients: that’s the premise of Hit Man, airing on W9 on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 9:25 p.m., with a rerun on November 9 at 11:50 p.m. Richard Linklater directs this crime comedy, starring Glen Powell, who also co-wrote the screenplay.
In New Orleans, Gary Johnson leads a low-key life, splitting his time between teaching and his technical work for the police. When he has to fill in for a colleague, he discovers that he can adopt the identities his clients need to believe he’s a hitman. His encounter with Madison, played by Adria Arjona, complicates the arrangement: attracted to this client, who wants to escape an abusive husband, he becomes personally involved in her story.
Linklater and Powell’s screenplay is based on a story by Skip Hollandsworth about the real Gary Johnson, published in Texas Monthly in 2001. The film, however, takes liberties with its source material: the romance is fictional. This shift from police sting to romance explains the blend of comedy, thriller and play with identities that shapes the story.
For more to explore, check out our selection of movies, series and shows to watch on TV this week, our guide to new releases across all platforms, and today’s picks in What to watch streaming today.
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