Rian Johnson will reportedly have full creative control over Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3. The followups to Johnson's acclaimed 2019 whodunnit took a massive step forward recently, when Netflix swooped in to secure the projects in a $400+ million deal. The original Knives Out grossed $311.3 million worldwide for Lionsgate, so it was a little surprising to see the streamer land the highly-anticipated sequels. However, with the theatrical marketplace changing drastically in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it makes sense for the mid-budget films to go to Netflix.
A primary reason why the first Knives Out was so successful was Johnson's script, which was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars. Inspired by the works of Agatha Christie, it took viewers down an entertaining and twisty road that smartly blended genres and ideas into an absorbing package. Knives Out served as evidence Johnson is arguably better off without Star Wars (though he's still developing his Star Wars movie trilogy) and instead playing in Benoit Blanc's sandbox. With Knives Out, Johnson seemed to enjoy an endless amount of creative freedom, and that'll carry over in the sequels.
According to THR, Johnson is set to have "immense creative control" on Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3. Per the report, "he doesn't have to take any notes from the streamer." The only things Johnson had to agree to as part of the Netflix deal were Craig returning to star as Blanc and ensuring the two sequels have a budget of about $40 million, like the original.
At first glance, it sounds atypical for a distributor to give a filmmaker total leeway, but this is the way Netflix operates. Over the past several years, they've emerged as a friendly place for auteurs to finally make their passion projects (The Irishman, Mank, etc.). Netflix isn't like a typical studio that depends heavily on box office grosses; they determine success by other means, such as number of views and awards nominations. Netflix films will get a theatrical run in order to qualify for the Oscars, but the commercial numbers don't make or break the movie. That's one of the benefits for directors working with them. There's limited interference and they're allowed to truly tell the stories they want.
Based on how the first Knives Out turned out, Netflix knows it's probably best to trust Johnson and let him work without any restrictions. It should be fun to see what he comes up with. Over his career, he's made a name for himself as a creative director who cleverly subverts tropes and expectations, and he's already said Knives Out 2 will be "totally different" from its predecessor. While there will likely be some similarities, that approach will help the sequel feel fresh when compared to the original movie and ideally keep the audience on their toes. It remains to be seen what Benoit Blanc will be up to in Knives Out 2, but it's encouraging to know Johnson won't face any hinderance from Netflix.
Source: THR