Sequels Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3 will release on Netflix after the streamer closed on a deal for the movies. Writer-director Rian Johnson's Knives Out originally released in 2019, starring Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc, who was called in to help investigate the mysterious death of crime fiction writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). Beyond Plummer and Craig, Knives Out featured an all-star ensemble that included the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Don Johnson, Toni Collette and many more established or rising stars. The whodunnit was a veritable hit at the box office, earning $311.4 million at the box office on a $40 million budget, and earned rave reviews from critics and moviegoers alike who hoped for more Blanc movies.
As such, it came as little surprise when Johnson confirmed he was working on Knives Out 2. Not much is known about the sequel so far, though Johnson has said it will bring back Craig's Detective Blanc for an entirely new mystery, in the same vein as Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot was the common thread of her stories. And now the Knives Out sequels take a major step forward.
Variety is reporting that Netflix has closed a deal to release Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3, paying $450 million for Johnson's upcoming whodunnits. Additionally, both Johnson and Craig are set to return for the two sequels. Aside from Craig, it's unclear who may star in Knives Out 2 or Knives Out 3, but filming is expected to begin on the first sequel this summer.
While some may be disappointed to see Knives Out 2 and 3 go to Netflix, instead of the traditional theatrical model, it might ultimately be for the best. Although Knives Out was a big success based on its budget, it was still a mid-range movie, and its total gross pales in comparison to a typical blockbuster movie. With the changing theatrical landscape that's been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the shifts toward streaming, Knives Out 2 and 3 releasing on Netflix makes more sense considering even before the pandemic Knives Out didn't earn a massive gross at the worldwide box office. Plus, it will take some time for theaters to recover and studios seem more focused on putting out their big blockbusters than mid-range films.
Still, it's exciting to see Johnson and Craig reteaming for Knives Out 2 and 3, and with the movies set to debut on Netflix, the writer-director may be allowed more freedom to bring his vision to life. What exactly that means for the Knives Out sequels remains to be seen, but those who enjoyed watching Blanc puzzle his way through the donut-like mystery of the Thrombeys are sure to be excited to see what whodunnit he'll tackle next. Though it's not yet known who will join Craig in Knives Out 2, since the first film boasted an all-star cast, Johnson and Netflix will no doubt pull in some compelling actors. As the start of filming on Knives Out 2 gets closer, more will be revealed. For now, at least it's been confirmed Benoit Blanc will return for two movies in Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3.
Source: Variety