Knives Out 2 is set to begin filming in summer 2021, following Rian Johnson's fun and star-studded Knives Out from 2019. Johnson himself is set to write, direct, and produce (along with Ram Bergman) the sequel, which will soon get its own separate title. The film will see Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc returning to solve a new mystery, with an entirely new cast of characters to contend with. Netflix is behind Knives Out 2, as well as the already-planned Knives Out 3, after a reported $450 million deal for the rights to the two upcoming films.
The original Knives Out film grossed $311 million worldwide and was a not-so-surprising hit, with its clever script and all-star ensemble cast. In the first film, Benoit Blanc uncovers the truth surrounding the death of the wealthy Thrombey family's patriarch, in a plot full of twists, turns, controversies, and surprises. The original cast features an Oscar winner, Christopher Plummer, and three Oscar nominees, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, and LaKeith Stanfield. Also in the cast are Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, and Riki Lindhome.
Not much is known about Knives Out 2's story other than that it will follow Benoit Blanc's next case. Beyond Craig returning to the role, new cast members Edward Norton and Dave Bautista have been announced, though their characters have not. These two names are just the beginning of what is sure to be an impressive list of veterans and newcomers who will be under a lot of pressure to live up to the first movie. Filming for Knives Out 2 begins in Greece in June 2021 which could set it up for release in 2022. Here are all the cast members who have been confirmed so far.
Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc
Craig's Benoit Blanc is "the last of the gentlemen sleuths" and sports a highly specific Southern American accent and a mysterious air. As the centerpiece of the first movie, Craig's return is essential to the sequel and his character is already known. After the first Knives Out, Craig was busy filming his last Bond film, No Time to Die (where we worked again with Ana de Armas). Craig is also already cast in Knives Out 3, launching directly into a new franchise after his time as Bond, though in this case he's originating it.
Dave Bautista
Bautista was announced as part of the Knives Out 2 cast on May 10, 2021. Nothing is yet known about his character, but he's sure to be right up in the action. Bautista is perhaps best known as Drax in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. He was a WWE World Heavyweight Champion and MMA fighter and has already worked with Craig on Spectre.
Edward Norton
Norton was announced as part of the Knives Out 2 cast on May 11, 2021, with no details yet released about his character. Norton is a three-time Oscar nominee known for The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman, as well as playing the previous Hulk in the 2008 The Incredible Hulk. He's most recently wrapped Wes Anderson's upcoming The French Dispatch, which is set to release in July 2021. Norton's involvement in Knives Out 2 bodes well for the quality of the script, as he's notoriously become more selective with his roles.
Janelle Monáe
Having released her debut EP in 2007, some four years after her demo album release, Janelle Monáe was initially best-known as a musician before 2016 saw her star in the huge double-header of Hidden Figures and Moonlight. Since then, she's done voice work in Ugly Dolls and Disney+'s Lady & The Tramp, starred in Harriet and Welcome to Marwen, and more recently starred in Antebellum.
Her role in Knives Out 2 is, like the other new cast members, under wraps for now.