Benoit Blanc is back on the case.
Netflix is closing a deal which will give them two sequels to the 2019 hit mystery Knives Out which will see Daniel Craig returning as detective Benoit Blanc along with Knives Out writer/director Rian Johnson.
Deadline broke the news that the streaming service is ponying up over $400 million for the rights to two follows up the all-star ensemble film. Not a bad deal for Johnson and producing partner Ram Bergman who own the property. The original film was financed by Lionsgate on a single film basis. The first film was shot on a budget of $40 million and earned $311 million at the box office.
Drawing inspiration from a number of mystery stories from Agatha Christie’s canon to more modern works like the play-turned-film Deathtrap, Knives Out featured Craig as a detective called in to consult on the mysterious murder of a world renowned author found dead with a slashed throat in a locked room.
Knives Out opened in late 2019 to strong reviews and box office and by the following January, it was reported that Johnson had already started in on drafting a sequel.
Production on the first of the two films is set to begin at the end of June in Greece, so expect a deluge of casting announcements to start up soon.
This is not the only mystery project that Johnson has on his plate. He also has the series Poker Face set up over at the Peacock streaming service which will star Natasha Lyon.
