Why Extraction 3 Needs To Follow Golshifteh Farahani's Nik - Not Tyler

While everyone may have tuned into Extraction because 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, Ciudad by Ande Parks, and directed by the Russo brothers, Extraction became the most-watched original movie in Netflix history when 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, with Extraction 2 releasing in 2023. It was seen as an improvement on its predecessor, earning a respectable 80% on Rotten Tomatoes (compared to Extraction'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. With Extraction 3 on 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

As a military contractor and fellow mercenary of Tyler's, Golshifteh Farahani's Nik Khan proves she's capable in her own right. At the end of Extraction, 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.

Related Netflix's Extraction Cast Guide: Where You Know The Actors From Sam Hagrave's Extraction movie features Chris Hemsworth's mercenary Tyler Rake in a rescue mission. Here's where you know the rest of the cast.

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 is capable 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, but Nik 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.

Why Nik Should Lead Extraction 3

Nik's Backstory Has Untapped Potential While Tyler's Is Established

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Tyler's guilt about his dead son and strained relationship with his ex-wife take up much of the emotional core in the first two Extraction films. 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 in Extraction 2 only to be fatally gunned down. If Nik is the protagonist of Extraction 3, the audience could learn more about the nuances of her character and motivations.

Related "You Have To Lose Something": Extraction 2's Major Character Death Explained By Director Director Sam Hargrave explains the major character death featured in Extraction 2 and why it was a necessary part of the sequel’s story.

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 3 could raise the stakes even higher because it would be made clearer what Nik has to lose by embarking on another mission.

Though there's been a recent surge of female action stars, the genre is still predominantly led by men. Extraction 3 could 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 that Nik is a morally sound character with an emotional center. In Extraction, 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 when Tyler 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 for Extraction 3, but the action genre as a whole.

So far, few details about Extraction 3 have come to light, so Nik still has a chance to be the star of the show. Screenwriter Joe Russo has only said that the Extraction threequel is "in development", and will likely begin filming next year. Apparently, there are plans to give Nik her own spinoff film with her brother, but, again, few details have been released, and the project isn't officially confirmed. Hopefully, Extraction 3 will feature Golshifteh Farahani's Nik as the protagonist because she is worthy of being the hero of her own story.