In just thirteen days, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” hits theaters in limited release before it premieres on Netflix right before Christmas. So, is Rian Johnson‘s follow-up to his 2019 sleeper hit “Knives Out” the most anticipated movie of the year? Well, it’s up there, especially after critics adored the sequel at its TIFF world premiere in September (here’s our review).
And Johnson loved making it too, so much so the director may keep making “Knives Out” sequels until he gets bored. Collider reports (via a Total Film interview) that while Johnson has one sequel left in his $469 million deal with Netflix for two “Knives Out” sequels, he may eye even more beyond that. “God’s honest truth is, I had so much fun making this one, and the creative challenge of figuring out a third movie that’s completely different from both this one and the first one – right now, that’s the most interesting creative challenge to me,” Johnson said. “So I might just dive in and see what we come up with.”
More time with Daniel Craig‘s detective Benoit Blanc? Say no more, and it sounds like Craig feels the same way as Johnson. In fact, Johnson envisions he and Craig will keep making sequels “as long as the two of us are still having fun, and as long as we can continue to make these truly new experiences each time, and find new ways to challenge ourselves.” But Johnson recognizes the sequels need to be as fresh as “Glass Onion.” “The second we feel like we’re repeating ourselves, or just turning a crank on a machine, we’ll stop,” Johnson continued. “Because to me, the whole conception of this whole series is the same way Agatha Christie did it with her books – we’re doing something new and surprising every time.”
And while “Glass Onion” is another murder mystery like “Knives Out,” the two movies are also quite different in setting and set-up. The upcoming film sees Benoit Blanc take off to a tech billionaire’s private island in Greece, who’s hosting friends for an elaborate murder mystery game. But, of course, someone does get murdered, and with Blanc again invited by an unknown party, the detective must solve a new mystery. Alongside Craig, “Glass Onion” boasts an ensemble cast that includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr., Dave Bautista, and Madelyn Cline. Kathryn Hahn, Kate Hudson, and Jessica Henwick round out the main cast (and look at for an Ethan Hawke cameo).
So, given Johnson’s excitement about “Glass Onion,” expect more than just one more sequel to “Knives Out.” But what does Craig have to say about all of this? Will “Knives Out 3” be coming soon? “It might be the next thing I do,’ said Craig. “I don’t know, it depends on how quick Rian is.” Even then, “Glass Onion” still needs to reach a general audience first, so catch the movie when it hits Netflix on December 23 if it’s not playing in a theater near you this month.