After the resounding success of Knives Out, one of the greatest murder mystery movies of the 21st century and one of the most rewatchable movies of the past decade, it has led to a huge demand for the sequel.
And what’s exciting is that though writer-director Rian Johnson had actually been working on the first movie for 15 years, the sequel will have a relatively short turnover, as it goes in to principal photography this month. With the follow-up currently in production, and with it being Twitter’s most anticipated sequel, any tiny bit of information or news report is huge, and there’s a lot of news sure to get fans even more excited.
It Will Be A Netflix Original
Though the first movie was produced by Lionsgate and Johnson was writing the sequel with the intention of working with Lionsgate again, there was a plot twist almost as mind blowing as the ones in the movie. Netflix paid hundreds of millions for the rights to the Knives Out property.
It is completely unprecedented in the history of cinema, as both Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig have been paid in incredible $100 million each, as the former was paid that to write and direct, and the latter was paid to reprise his role of Benoit Blanc. What’s unprecedented is that those salaries aren’t included in the budget that Netflix will give to Johnson to make the sequel, as directors’ and actors’ salaries have always been a part of the budget.
The New Mystery Is Unrelated To The First Movie
Being inspired by whodunit movies like Clue and Gosford Park, Knives Out was a very well rounded mystery movie. As the film followed Benoit Blanc, who sought to uncover the murder, or lack thereof, of Harlan Thrombey, the mystery was neatly wrapped up by the time credits rolled. And as much of an amazing cast that the movie had, it wouldn’t make any sense for Benoit to return to the Thrombey manor. Johnson has confirmed that the new mystery will have absolutely nothing to do with the Thrombeys.
It’s The Second In A Trilogy
Netflix got the most that they could out of the buyout. The money Netflix paid Johnson and Craig wasn’t just for one sequel, but two of them.
The follow-up to Knives Out will be the second in a trilogy, which is interesting because though the first and second movie won’t be related, there could be a through line in Benoit Blanc’s story arc. However, when the third movie will come is up in the air, and as Johnson was working on the first movie for 15 years, and is now at work on the sequel non-stop, there could be a break between the second and third movie.
Dave Bautista Has Been Cast
Whether it’s the late, great Christopher Plummer’s portrayal as the heroic Harlan or Chris Evans’ sinister take on Ransom, Knives Out was known for its terrific performances. However, as none of those characters are returning, it leaves open the possibility of who will fill those big boots.
But the sequel is shaping up to have a just as great cast, as the first actor to be hired for the follow-up was Dave Bautista. Fascinatingly enough, as bankable and beloved by Marvel fans as Bautista is, he is reportedly terrified about working on the film due to the high expectations.
It Will Be Filmed In Greece
It was reported that Daniel Craig was at the Greek embassy getting a visa to work in Greece. Given that the first movie was based almost entirely in a darkly lit mansion, the setting of the airy and light country for a sequel is far cry from the original. However, whether or not the movie is based in Greece is another question entirely.
What regularly happens in the movie industry is that producers will shoot in cheaper locations that will represent a more popular place, as movies often shoot in Manchester when they’re based in a New York. And Fast Five used Puerto Rico when the movie is based in Rio de Janeiro, so it could very well be that Greece is being used to represent a different city, but at this point, nobody knows.
Two Musicians Will Star In The Movie
Along with the incredible cast that includes Dave Bautista, there’s not one, but two musicians who will be joining the all star cast. First of all, it was reported that Janelle Monáe will be a part of the sequel, and though she doesn’t have many acting credits to her name, the singer has shown how great of an actor she is in Moonlight and Hidden Figures. The second musician to join the crew is Kate Hudson, who is much more of a seasoned actor, and her dry humor will fit the mystery movie perfectly.
Edward Norton Has Been Cast
With Knives Out having one of the most impressive ensemble cast of recent years, it’s no surprise that the casting updates are such a big deal and arguably more talked about than the actual premise of the movie.
Fans want prestige casting in the sequel more than anything, and though it’ll be hard to supersede the cast of the first movie, Edward Norton joining the cast of the follow-up is possibly the biggest move Rian Johnson has made yet. As the details of his character are unknown, it’s impossible to even guess, as Norton has a wider range than most other actors working today.
It Might Be A Prequel
The reason why Benoit Blanc was hired to investigate the Thrombey case in the first place was because of an article about him in The New Yorker. The article details Blanc’s most famous case, which was regarding a tennis player. The story of the tennis player has already been outlined in the first movie, which has led to the possibility of the follow-up being a prequel. And even if that isn’t the premise for the second movie, it could be for the third movie.
Other Actors That Have Been Cast
Along with all of the other A-listers that have been cast in the movie, there are a couple of other key players too. They might not be as famous as the other actors, but they are more up-and-coming and have had tons of exposure in recent years. Along with fellow MCU alum Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn has also been cast in the movie. The actress is best known for playing the witch Agatha Harkness in WandaVision. And the final actor to be cast in the hyped sequel is Leslie Odom Jr., who is best known for playing Aaron Burr in Hamilton.
It Won’t Be Called Knives Out 2
As the title Knives Out is very much related to the premise of the movie, it wouldn’t make all that much sense if the sequel was simply titled Knives Out 2. And Rian Johnson has explained that, as the movie will be almost completely unrelated to the original movie, the sequel will have a completely different title.
Fans have even explored the idea of potential sequels hidden in the film, as there are so many names of mystery novels scattered throughout the Thrombey manor. And maybe Johnson could take some inspiration from them, as he claims he has been struggling with the title.