With his tenure as James Bond concluding later this year with No Time to Die, Daniel Craig now has a great gig playing another character who tracks down bad guys. Craig debut as private investigator Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, which was so critically and commercially successful that Lionsgate ordered Knives Out 2 just a few months after the Rian Johnson-written and directed flick premiered in theaters. Now word’s come in that not only is Knives Out 3 also in the works, but these forthcoming whodunnit tales are heading to streaming.
According to Deadline, Netflix is closing a deal somewhere in the $450 million range the two Knives Out sequels. Along with Daniel Craig obviously reprising Benoit Blanc, Rian Johnson has already written both movies and will reprise his directing duties, as well as produce alongside partner Ram Bergman. Apparently a “discreet” auction was held for the forthcoming Knives Out movies, and Netflix beat out Amazon and Apple.
So why are Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3 heading to Netflix rather than Lionsgate sending them to theaters like their predecessor? Well, Knives Out was acquired by production company MRC in a single picture deal, while Lionsgate distributed it. But Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman own and license the Knives Out property on a picture by picture basis, and with the 2019 movie out having over $311 million worldwide off a $40 million budget, the duo were welcome to seek an even better deal for the sequels. Netflix was game to be in the Knives Out business, so if you’re eager to see the continuing adventures of Benoit Blanc, make sure you’re subscribed to the platform.
Now that the Knives Out sequels are setting up shop at Netflix, the plan is for Knives Out 2 to start shooting in Greece on June 28, and casting will begin immediately. Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc will be investigating a new mystery, so expect him to be surrounded by a lot of new faces, although that doesn’t rule out the possibility that some familiar characters from the first Knives Out movie could return. Craig signed onto Knives Out in the interim period between when director Danny Boyle left No Time to Die and Cary Fukunaga took over the upcoming James Bond movie.
Netflix isn’t exactly hurting for film content these days, from The Gray Man being its most expensive cinematic production yet to Keanu Reeves bringing BRZRKR under its umbrella. Still acquiring the Knives Out sequels is a big deal, and I wouldn’t be shocked if later down the line, the Netflix bigwigs approach Rian Johnson about making Knives Out 4. Hey, if Hercule Poirot can investigate dozens of mysteries, there’s no reason Benoit Blanc’s adventures have to be contained to a trilogy.
Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on how Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3 are progressing. Be sure to through our guide detailing what’s coming to Netflix in April, and you can also learn what’s headed to theaters later this year with our upcoming 2021 schedule.
