While everyone may have tuned intoExtractionbecause of Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani’s Nik Khan is the best part of the franchise, which is why she would lead it. Based on the graphic novel,Ciudadby Ande Parks, and directed by the Russo brothers,Extractionbecame the most-watched original movie in Netflix historywhen it was released in 2020. The film follows Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake, an Australian soldier turned mercenary who is tasked with rescuing the kidnapped son of an Indian drug lord.
The original film’s success prompted a sequel, withExtraction 2releasing in 2023. It was seen as an improvement on its predecessor, earning a respectable 80% on Rotten Tomatoes (compared toExtraction’s 67%). Critics praised the sequel’s fight scenes and explosions, but above all else, its performances — and it’s no coincidence that Farahani had a bigger role. WithExtraction 3on the way, it’s the perfect opportunity to put Nik Khan in the driver’s seat and make her the franchise’s hero.
Golshifteh Farahani Plays Private Military Contractor Nik Khan In Extraction
She’s Well-Equipped To Fight Her Own Battles
Asa military contractor and fellow mercenary of Tyler’s, Golshifteh Farahani’s Nik Khan proves she’s capable in her own right. At theend ofExtraction, it’s Nik who pulls up in her helicopter to save the day. While, yes, Tyler is the one to help Ovi Jr. (Rudhraksh Jaiswal) escape, he wouldn’t have been able to make a clean break if Nik hadn’t been there to literally swoop in and save him.
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Nik’s strength as a mercenary is reinforced in the second film. She shows her skills in handling military-grade weapons when she shoots Zurab and once again allows Tyler to get to safety, proving that she is capable of not only fending for herself but iscapable of helping others as well.
It’s worth noting that Nik excels in a male-dominated industry. Nearly all the other mercenaries and people she contends with are male, butNik is able to hold her own and be an indisputable asset to whatever team she is on. Tyler has come to rely on her as an essential part of a mission’s success, which is a testament to Nik’s capability as a mercenary.
Nik’s Backstory Has Untapped Potential While Tyler’s Is Established
Tyler’s guilt about his dead son and strained relationship with his ex-wife take up much of the emotional core in the first twoExtractionfilms.This backstory layers out his character, but now that it’s been established, it would be a refreshing change of pace if the third film were to focus on Nik’s backstory.
One of the few concrete details revealed about Nik is that she has a brother, Yaz, who shows up inExtraction 2only to be fatally gunned down. If Nik is the protagonist ofExtraction 3, the audience could learn more about the nuances of her character and motivations.
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Nik’s character is full of untapped potential. The third film could reveal details about how she grew up and why she decided to become involved in mercenary missions.By exploring Nik’s background,Extraction 3could raise the stakes even higherbecause it would be made clearer what Nik has to lose by embarking on another mission.
Though there’s been a recent surge offemale action stars, the genre is still predominantly led by men.Extraction 3could buck the trend and put Nik center stage, which would make the film series stand out in a sea of male-dominated action films.
Extraction 3 Would Have More Heart If Nik Were The Main Character
Nik Could Offer A Unique Emotional Center To The Series
It’s clear thatNik is amorally sound character with an emotional center.InExtraction, Khan she to help Tyler as a way to keep him from indulging in his self-destructive behavior, as she knows that he has suicidal tendencies and substance abuse issues. In fact, she agrees to help out on the mission specifically because she wants to help Tyler get “his head on straight”.
But Nik never shames Tyler for his issues. Instead, she offers to help him, on the condition that he stays sober. It would have been easy for the Russo brothers to make Nik a love interest for Tyler, like so many female characters in action movies. However,Nik’s kindness and concern for Tyler are strictly out of platonic affection; she respects him as a friend and a colleague, and her level of care speaks to her character.
Nik’s compassion is also seen in the second film when she thinks it’s wrong to prolong Tyler’s suffering and wants his life support plug pulled. Thankfully, her pulls through, but it’s clear that Nik is concerned about him being as comfortable as possible, even whenTyler is looking death in the face.
She is also essential in orchestrating Tyler’s post-coma living situation. Nik helps set him up in the peaceful mountains of Austria because she wants him to find peace due to all the chaos present in his life, proving that she is considerate of others. It’s rare to see this level of heart in an action hero, and would be a refreshing change of pace not only forExtraction 3, but the action genre as a whole.
So far, few details aboutExtraction 3have come to light, so Nik still has a chance to be the star of the show. ScreenwriterJoe Russo has only said that theExtractionthreequel is “in development”, and will likely begin filming next year. Apparently, there are plans to giveNik her own spinoff filmwith her brother, but, again, few details have been released, and the project isn’t officially confirmed. Hopefully,Extraction3will feature Golshifteh Farahani’s Nik as the protagonist becauseshe is worthy of being the hero of her own story.
Extraction
Extraction is a multi-media franchise initially conceived as a 2014 graphic novel known as Ciudad that follows the exploits of a black ops mercenary member named Tyler Rake. Tyler consistently finds himself behind enemy lines as he takes on increasingly more difficult missions fraught with dangerous military exercises and potential betrayal waiting around the corner at every turn.
