Rian Johnson's highly-anticipated sequel Knives Out 2 is expected to debut on Netflix in 2022. Following the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the writer/director delivered one of the surprise hits of 2019 with Knives Out. The original whodunnit earned rave reviews as it went on to make more than $300 million worldwide, backed by the star power of Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, and more. Johnson received an Oscar nomination for his original screenplay and immediately began work on a sequel.
The development of Knives Out 2 came as no surprise, but Johnson delivered another unexpected twist when he moved the franchise to Netflix as part of a deal to write and direct two sequels. Knives Out 2 features the return of Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc, but he's surrounded by an entirely new supporting cast. The sequel's ensemble includes Ethan Hawke, Dave Bautista, Jessica Henwick, Kathryn Hahn, Edward Norton, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, and Madelyn Cline as potential suspects of a new murder. Knives Out 2 plot details remained under wraps throughout filming, which wrapped in September 2021.
There is great anticipation for Knives Out 2, and now Variety reports that the movie will release in theaters and on Netflix in fall 2022. No official release date has been set at this time, but Netflix is reportedly planning a festival debut. Knives Out 2's release plan is a strong indicator that the streaming service views Johnson's hotly-anticipated sequel as a possible awards contender.
The fall 2022 release date makes a great deal of sense for Knives Out 2. The original movie hit theaters right before Thanksgiving in 2019, and the combination of the great word of mouth and families gathering for the holidays drove Knives Out's impressive box office performance. With its various twists and surprises, it remained a staple of movie discussions for months to come, which helped keep it in consideration for awards voters. Craig has said Knives Out 2 is very different from the first film, so that could help it once again stand out.
Netflix's reported plan to put Knives Out 2 on the festival circuit and then release it wide in the fall follows the pattern of the original, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival and earned rave reviews. A similar strategy makes sense, especially if Johnson and Netflix believe that the sequel matches or exceeds the quality of the original. Knives Out 2 star Dave Bautista believes the sequel is better than the first. With Netflix becoming a bigger player in awards season in recent years, perhaps Knives Out 2 can get an Oscar win when everything is said and done.
Source: Variety