Confirmed Lead and Supporting Cast for the Next Knives Out Film
Daniel Craig returns as private detective Benoit Blanc for the third installment in the Knives Out franchise. Netflix confirmed the project as a sequel to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, with Craig reprising his role as the lead investigator. The ensemble cast includes new additions alongside returning actors from the previous films. Forbes reported the latest casting updates and plot details for the new film.
Key Returning and New Actors
Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, and Leslie Odom Jr. are confirmed to return from Glass Onion. New cast members include Dave Bautista and Mila Kunis, with additional roles filled by actors such as Cailee Spaeny and Josh O'Connor. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson, who also wrote and directed the previous two Knives Out movies.
Production Company, Release Strategy, and Franchise Details
T-Series and 87North Productions are producing the new Knives Out film under the Netflix distribution deal. The project follows the box office and streaming performance of the prior entries, with Glass Onion earning over $15 million in its opening weekend and significant viewership on the platform. Netflix's official Knives Out 3 page provides current release window and production updates.
Franchise Structure and Future Plans
The Knives Out series is structured as a recurring anthology with different settings and ensembles while keeping Benoit Blanc as the connective thread. Johnson has described each film as a standalone mystery with overlapping themes of wealth, secrecy, and justice. The franchise model positions the series for long-term expansion across multiple sequels and potential spin-offs.
Box Office and Streaming Performance Metrics
Poor Things, a recent Rian Johnson project, earned over $117 million worldwide at the box office and received strong critical reception. The first Knives Out film grossed $311 million globally, while Glass Onion added $15 million in its domestic opening weekend. Box Office Mojo tracks the global gross and streaming performance of the Glass Onion sequel.
Audience Reception and Critical Rankings
Glass Onion holds a 92% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.4 rating on IMDb, indicating strong audience and critical alignment. The original Knives Out sits at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.9 on IMDb, establishing a high benchmark for the franchise. The new film's cast additions and production scale are expected to maintain or exceed these engagement metrics.
Production Timeline and Filming Locations
Principal photography for the third Knives Out film began in 2024, with filming locations including the United Kingdom and the United States. The production timeline aligns with Netflix's strategy of releasing high-profile ensemble mysteries on a multi-year cadence. Netflix's SEC filings detail the financial