Netflix secures Knives Out sequels in $450 million deal

“It is not a donut hole, but a smaller donut with its own hole.” It’s wisdom from like this that made Rian Johnson’s whodunnit hit, Knives Out, such a success back in 2019, prompting interest in an entire series following the film’s Detective Benoit Blanc. And it seems Daniel Craig will revive the role in two sequels, which have officially been secured by Netflix.

According to Variety, the streamer has purchased the rights to two Knives Out sequels in a deal that cost the company around $450 million. That’s a high price to pay for new content, but it seems the platform is banking on the popularity of Johnson’s story to make it worthwhile.

In addition to Craig returning as Detective Blanc, Johnson will reportedly direct the two new films. Per Deadline, he’s already written the scripts and will produce both movies with Ram Bergman. (According to Variety, Bergman’s involvement is not set in stone just yet though.)

The first Knives Out, which earned $311.4 million at the box office despite its $40 million budget, was produced by Media Rights Capital and released by Lionsgate. How the Netflix deal will impact the franchise going forward remains to be seen, but here’s what we know so far.

What can we expect from the Knives Out sequels?

With the deal so fresh and new, details about the actual content of the sequels are sparse at the moment. However, with Detective Benoit Blanc making a comeback, most fans are assuming the follow-up films will see him solving new mysteries. (While they’ll probably be unrelated to the Thrombey family, we have to hope they’ll be just as eccentric.)

Craig is the only cast member confirmed to return so far, but there’s always the possibility that Ana de Armas could make an appearance in the sequels. The two characters formed a friendship during the first installment, and it’s entirely possible de Armas’ character could find herself wrapped up in more detective work because of it.

Another big question surrounding Netflix’s purchase of the Knives Out sequels is whether or not they’ll receive a theatrical release. Typically, Netflix exclusives debut on the streaming platform only. However, given Knives Out‘s origins — and how well the first film did in theaters — it’s possible the streamer will make an exception. (Fingers crossed on that one.)

What do you think of Netflix’s purchase of two Knives Out sequels? What do you hope to see in the new additions to this franchise? Sound off in the comments below.