Ready for Extraction 2? The AGBOVERSE is here to prep you for Tyler Rake’s next adventure

By: AGBO Staff

When Netflix and AGBO released Extraction in 2020, it promptly became the most-watched original film in the platform’s history. Now, the Russo Brothers, director Sam Hargrave, and the film’s main cast return for Extraction 2, which hits Netflix on Friday, June 16.

As anticipated, the second installment of the story features the same high-powered, sophisticated action sequences and gorgeous cinematography that made Extraction shine in the first place. Now, get ready for lead actor Chris Hemsworth to take you on a new, high-stakes mission as Tyler Rake, the film’s emotionally disconnected, fearless, and physically ambitious protagonist. Not only is Rake’s new mission even more complex than his tangly quest to retrieve a drug baron’s kidnapped son in the first film, which takes place in Bangladesh— the sequel also brings its main cast to a new continent: Europe.

Before sitting down for another nail-biting, jaw-clenching night soaking up some of the biggest and baddest action you’ve probably ever seen, let’s dive into the Extraction universe and remember how it all began.

In the opening scene of Extraction, we dive right into the scenery of Dhaka and follow a seemingly unrelenting and invincible Rake as he fights his way across a bridge strewn with shot-up and bombed-out cars and buses. Decked out in the tattered ruins of his mercenary gear and armed only with a rifle, Rake seamlessly shoots down every soldier who steps in his way as he advances towards his primary pursuit. Who wouldn’t be hooked?

Here are more insights from the Extraction universe to help you remember Tyler’s story. (No spoilers, we promise!)

Watch the Extraction 2 trailer here.

‍THE PLOT

Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is a black market mercenary who must retrieve Ovi Mahajan Jr. (Rudhraksh Jaiswal), the kidnapped son of Bangladeshi drug baron Ovi Mahajan (Pankaj Tripathi). Rake is skilled and fearless, but also emotionally vacant—he’s lost his son to cancer and his wife has left him. His goal is to “extract” Ovi Jr. from the grip of his kidnapper, enemy drug lord Amir Asif (Priyanshu Painyuli). Against all odds, both physical and emotional, Rake battles through this smoldering hellscape, one determined man against a violent army of antagonists.

KEY CHARACTERS

Tyler Rake ‍

Played by Chris Hemsworth, Tyler Rake is a highly-skilled mercenary who possesses extraordinary will power and strength. As we mentioned above: Rake is not messing around. Though he’s an ex-Military operative with a tough facade, Rake keeps his personal trauma locked deep inside after he loses his son to cancer and his marriage ends. Despite his lingering, unspeakable grief, regret, and self-loathing, Rake carries out his mission intrepidly.

Nik‍

Played by Golshifteh Farahani, Nik is a diligent, resourceful, and fearless mercenary with an entrepreneurial spirit and at times, a ruthless side. In the first film, Nik’s backstory remains under wraps, but her fierce loyalty, air of mystery, poised demeanor, and strong motivation to obtain her big payday, leave viewers wondering what’s yet to be revealed about Nik’s inner world, fears, and motivations. (We’ll have to wait to see what gets revealed in Extraction 2.)

‍Yaz

‍Nik’s brother (Adam Bessa), is a member of her merc team who’s typically dressed to the nines. His sharp mind and can-do mentality becomes clear when he comes face to face with Saju over the money transfer. This is when Yaz’s figurative B.S. detector starts sounding off, and he realizes that their team is being played. Yaz also pilots the exfil chopper, and something tells us that his chopper skills are just the beginning of some seriously deft merc skills yet to come.

Saju Rav

Played by Randeep Hooda, Saju is a poised and strategic thinker tasked with caring for and protecting Ovi. When his plan to protect Ovi fails, Saju’s unyielding loyalty comes into conflict with his tremendous dedication for his wife Neysa (Neha Mahajan) and son Aarav (Pallas Prajapati). At an impasse, Saju has no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

Bathtub Chicken

Consumed by grief and depression, Rake makes friends with a chicken (!) who lives in the bathtub of his shanty in Australia’s outback. Rake is seemingly grateful and appreciative of the chicken, who proves to be a consistent and welcome companion. A wise chicken of few boks.

VEHICLES

Rake’s Delivery Truck

Following his hand–to-hand fight with Saju, Rake commandeers this truck and slams into a disoriented Saju. From there, Rake speeds the truck through the crowded Dhaka streets as a helicopter and police cars pursue. At one point, he shoves Ovi from the truck and jumps out along with him. The unoccupied truck crashes into other vehicles and explodes.

Fishing Boat

This inconspicuous fishing boat, docked on the Buriganga River in Dhaka, is Nik’s merc team’s exfil vehicle. Thiago and Jose are prepping the boat for Ovi’s imminent extraction when they’re ambushed by Saju. Rake and Ovi never make it to the boat, and it’s eventually discovered by a military patrol.

Ovi’s BMW

A chauffeur-bodyguard drives Ovi and his friends to a cafe in this car, which he also uses to drive Ovi home.

Rake’s Mercedes Sedan

Rake secures Ovi in the trunk of this car and drives it to the woods near the Buriganga River, where their exfil boat awaits them. After Saju’s assault on the merc team, Rake and Ovi use this car to escape the woods.

ALL ABOUT THE ‘ONER’

A one-shot sequence. In Extraction, director and former Marvel stunt coordinator Sam Hargrave and AGBO SVP Ari Costa choreographed and produced a one-shot action sequence, colloquially called a “oner,” that lasts for 14 minutes and features a high-speed car chase, explosions, a slew of gun firings, and lots of other vigorous and exigent moves from Chris Hemsworth.

Interestingly, Hargrave said the idea to create the original Extraction “oner” was rooted in the title of the film itself. The director told IndieWire, “What you’re promising with the title of an extraction is, let’s have the audience experience this with the characters in real time so that you’re facing the challenges they face as they do. You’re reacting to what they react to … which is why I chose to do it handheld and kind of almost documentary-style to where you’re right there, experiencing this scene in real time.”

For Extraction 2, Hargrave and the team sought to create another, even longer, “oner” whose duration would beat out the epic one-shot fight scene from the 2003 Korean action film Old Boy. The result? The “oner” in Extraction 2 clocks in at 21 minutes, nearly doubling the length of the first film’s sequence.

“Visually, [Extraction 2] is a totally different look. It’s a highly singular film in that way. This ‘oner’ was transportive. We used specially manufactured vehicles—both rear drive and top drive—where stunt drivers could steer the vehicles through treacherous terrain out of camera shot, while keeping the actors in action and looking like they were doing everything. We had cameras attached to extension poles, motorcycles, drones, helicopters, and trains — and Chris picked up the action like a dance,” AGBO Production SVP Ari Costa says.

Check out this video for more details about the making of the Extraction “oner.”

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