Full disclosure: Crime thrillers and murder mysteries are my comfort genres. I just really love witnessing scumbags get the punishment they deserve (which rarely happens in real life)—not to mention the tremendous adrenaline rush they provide.
So, when the official announcement of a “Knives Out” sequel was released, let’s just say I was buzzing with excitement. After all, it is directed and written again by Rian Johnson, who’s known for his genre-bending films such as “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “Looper,” and “Brick” (a film released more than a decade ago but is considered a cult classic in the noir genre).
The sequel, entitled “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” stars Daniel Craig (who reprises his role as detective Benoit Blanc) and new cast members Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, and Leslie Odom Jr.
Filming wrapped up in September 2021 and the movie is slated for a global release on Dec. 23.
We just wrapped production on the next Benoit Blanc mystery and also I finally watched Annette and holy shit it’s amazing. Sending so much love and gratitude to our INCREDIBLE crew and cast and Leos Carax!
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) September 13, 2021
The official trailer hasn’t dropped yet, though, so while waiting, here are some fast facts about the upcoming film to help you get a better idea of what to expect.
Its title is based on the 1968 The Beatles song
“I’m always fishing for something fun that Blanc can grab onto as an overwrought metaphor that he can beat to death. […] So, the idea of glass came to me, something that’s clear,” Johnson revealed in an interview.
He started brainstorming for titles that have “glass” in them and as a self-proclaimed Beatles fan, the first thing that popped to his mind was “Glass Onion.”
Benoit Blanc’s next case, the follow up to Knives Out, is called GLASS ONION. pic.twitter.com/6Zo0g1VX11
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) June 13, 2022
ICYDK, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the song for people who overanalyze their band’s lyrics. It aims to confuse listeners, so I’m expecting the same treatment for the “Knives Out” sequel: transparent yet multilayered, with unexpected twists scattered everywhere.
It’s a standalone sequel
Unlike most film or television sequels, “Glass Onion” is a standalone film that doesn’t require you to watch the first installment. Sure, it’s set in the same universe, but it follows an entirely different narrative.
While “Knives Out” dealt with an eccentric family, “Glass Onion” tells the journey of detective Blanc as he solves a murder case that takes place during a tech billionaire’s private getaway in Greece with his friends.
Benoit Blanc will have the spotlight this time
Let’s be real: Blanc is a mystery himself. We weren’t really given much information to grasp who he was in “Knives Out,” except that he’s a detective who talks vaguely like a Southern aristocrat. He’s an enigma.
But according to the director, viewers will “definitely get to know him a little better” in the sequel. Hopefully, “Glass Onion” explores more of Blanc’s character—who he is as a person and why he thinks the way he does.
Read more:
4 reasons you still need to watch ‘Knives Out’ right now
Films you need to watch alone, as told by the Scout team
Apple won’t let movie villains use iPhones
Photo from @KnivesOut on Twitter