I’m a whodunit junkie,” Rian Johnson told Vanity Fair in October 2019, a month after “Knives Out” debuted to universal acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival and a month before it would open in theaters and become a box office sensation. “The idea of doing an original one about America in 2019 seemed really exciting: the combination of an incredibly fun genre that is a rollercoaster ride for the audience, kind of a puzzle box…and you have an all-star cast.”
“Knives Out” proved a rollercoaster for many filmgoers on its way to just over $310 million at the worldwide box office (a dazzling total for a film based on an original idea), and the film’s success gave Johnson the keys to something he eyed from the start: Turn “Knives Out” into an anthology series where Daniel Craig’s character, detective Benoit Blanc, investigates a new murder in each installment. Such a move would allow Johnson to cast a new ensemble with each film, and that already is paying off dramatically for the upcoming “Knives Out 2.”
With production on the “Knives Out” sequel now underway, check out the rundown below of all the major details fans know so far. IndieWire will update the list with new information about “Knives Out 2” breaks.
The first “Knives Out” world premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews. IndieWire senior film critic David Ehrlich awarded the film an A- review, calling it “a crackling, devious, and hugely satisfying old-school whodunnit with a modern twist.” The film was distributed by Lionsgate in November 2019 and became a word-of-mouth box office sensation, grossing $311 million worldwide. It’s increasingly rare for an original property to break out at the box office in such a big way, so it was no surprise when in February 2020 the news came that Johnson and Craig were moving forward with “Knives Out 2.”
Daniel Craig will continue to be the face of the “Knives Out” franchise as he reprises the role of detective Benoit Blanc. It remains to be seen what new mystery Blanc will investigate. One thing fans do know is that Craig was eager to do a sequel since the release of the first movie, telling Entertainment Weekly in January 2020, “I’d be over the moon [to do a sequel]. I mean, I’d do anything for Rian. If he writes something, I’ll do it. Of course, I will. Why wouldn’t I? I had a ton of fun doing it. You aim for that every time, you aim for that to work out. It rarely, rarely does, but it did in that film and how nice is that?”
Dave Bautista was the first new cast member to be announced for “Knives Out 2,” and what followed was a wave of A-list talent set to join the sequel: Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Jessica Henwick, and “Outer Banks” breakout Madelyn Cline. But there are still some surprises left in store for the ensemble cast. Not announced by the trades ahead of filming but seen in the first batch of set photos from the film’s production are Ethan Hawke and Jada Pinkett Smith. As for who these actors are playing in the film, it’s anyone’s guess at this point. No character descriptions or plot details about “Knives Out 2” have been released by Netflix or even teased by the actors.
Dave Bautista was the first new cast member to be announced for “Knives Out 2,” and what followed was a wave of A-list talent set to join the sequel: Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Jessica Henwick, and “Outer Banks” breakout Madelyn Cline. But there are still some surprises left in store for the ensemble cast. Not announced by the trades ahead of filming but seen in the first batch of set photos from the film’s production are Ethan Hawke and Jada Pinkett Smith. As for who these actors are playing in the film, it’s anyone’s guess at this point. No character descriptions or plot details about “Knives Out 2” have been released by Netflix or even teased by the actors.