Dave Bautista has been cast in the sequel to “Knives Out.”
He joins Daniel Craig, whose iridescent Detective Benoit Blanc propelled the first movie to box office glory, in an undisclosed role. Plot details for the follow-up have been kept under wraps, though it’s expected to enlist another A-list cast to anchor a soapy murder mystery. It’s unclear if any stars from original ensemble will be returning.
Netflix bought rights to “Knives Out 2” and “Knives Out 3” in March for a cool $468 million. The first “Knives Out” was produced by Media Rights Capital and was distributed by Lionsgate. It became a critical and commercial smash, earning more than $300 million at the global box office. These days, that’s not an easy feat for a movie that’s not based on existing IP or familiar characters.
Rian Johnson is returning to direct the sequel, which is planning to start production in Greece this summer.
The first film — starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Toni Collette and Ana de Armas — centers on a fabulously wealthy family and takes place after their patriarch, the renowned author Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), dies on the evening of his 85th birthday.
More to come…