Courtesy of MRC
As the streaming wars rage on, studios and streamers are scooping up whatever projects and franchises they can get their hands on. It's not surprising that any follow ups to Rian Johnson's smash hit whodunit, Knives Out, were heavily desired by the studio and an industry desperate to get some more juice out of it. Netflix is putting their money where their mouth is with a deal that guarantees us multiple Benoit Blanc stories.
Netflix is closing in on a deal to make two sequels to the 2019 hit with Rian Johnson returning to write and direct both. Daniel Craig will be reprising his role as Benoit Blanc. Johnson has already written both of the sequels and is producing with long time production partner Ram Bergman. Sources said who were keen on the deal said that it was worth more than $400 million, making it one of the biggest streamer movie deals in history. Apple and Amazon were also involved in the bidding process but were beat out by Netflix.
For those wondering how Lionsgate was not involved as it was the distributor of the original film, the original was acquired in a single picture deal by MRC. The first film cost $40 million and turned in a global box office gross of $311 million. Owned and licensed by Johnson and Bergman on a picture by picture basis, Johnson and Bergman were able to go out and get the biggest sequel deals they could get.
This is a win for fans of Knives Out who have been eagerly awaiting the further adventures of Benoit Blanc. It also gives Netflix a bonafide event film franchise. And fans won't have to wait long as the first of the two movies will begin shooting June 28 in Greece, and casting is underway as we speak.