In the months before a movie begins production, it’s expected that most, if not all of said movie’s main cast members will be announced to the public. Knives Out 2 is no exception, as starting with the announcement that Daniel Craig would be reunited with Spectre costar Dave Bautista, we’ve learned who will be comprising the lineup of colorful characters Benoit Blanc will interview as part of his next investigation. However, thanks to some leaked set photos, it appears there’s another player in the sequel who’s been kept under wraps until now.
Knives Out 2 is now filming in Greece, and a day after Rian Johnson commemorated the start of production on social media, Daily Mail has shared a series of photos of the actors shooting their scenes on a boat and at a pier. Included among the bunch is Ethan Hawke, who hasn’t have been officially announced for Knives Out 2. Hawke was seen opposite Dave Bautista and Kate Hudson, and strangely using a water gun.
Until today, eight actors had been reported/announced to be appearing alongside Daniel Craig in Knives Out 2; along with Dave Bautista and Kate Hudson, we’ll also see Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Madelyn Cline and Jessica Henwick. It’s unclear why Ethan Hawke’s involvement in the sequel wasn’t disclosed ahead of time. Maybe Rian Johnson simply wanted to keep a few castings secret, though considering that the cast and crew are on location, it was to be expected that photographers would be nearby snapping pictures of the production.
In any case, it looks like we can count on Ethan Hawke factoring into Knives Out 2’s story somehow. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hawke is playing the individual whose death Benoit Blanc is investigating, a position occupied by the late Christopher Plummer in the first Knives Out movie. I also can’t help but wonder if there are some other surprise appearances in store, though if that’s the case, Rian Johnson better take precautionary measures to ensure they’re not photographed.
Regardless, Ethan Hawke being photographed on the Knives Out 2 production comes after the actor finished work on major projects. Hawke is starring in a yet-to-be-revealed role on Disney+’s Moon Knight series, which stars Oscar Isaac as the eponymous protagonist. Hawke’s recent credits include Tesla and Cut Throat City, and along with being seen later this year in The Guilty, he has The Black Phone and The Northman lined up for 2022.
No plot details have been revealed yet for Knives Out 2, but one big way the sequel will distinguish itself from its predecessor is how it will be delivered to people. While Knives Out was theatrically distributed by Lionsgate, Netflix acquired both Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3 in a nearly $470 million deal. That’s not to say Knives Out 2 couldn’t still get a limited theatrical release, but obviously most folks will end up catching it directly from the streaming service.
As soon as more Knives Out 2 news trickles in, including when it will arrives on Netflix, we’ll let you know. In the meantime, browse through out guide detailing what’s coming to the platform this July.
