Knives Out creator Rian Johnson has explained what will set the murder mystery’s upcoming sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, apart from its esteemed predecessor. Johnson wrote and directed Knives Out, released in 2019 to critical and commercial success, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Fans and critics alike were enthralled by Johnson’s ability to produce a mystery that included many beloved elements of the genre while still managing to subvert audience expectations and flip tropes on their heads. The originality of his execution, coupled with a highly talented cast featuring Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lakeith Stanfield, Toni Collette, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas, to name a few, has guaranteed broad excitement for the impending sequel.
Johnson confirmed that a sequel was on its way in 2020, with Johnson at the helm once again as the writer and director of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Daniel Craig set to reprise his role as the master detective Benoit Blanc. The sequel is a standalone film featuring an entirely new mystery and a new, though equally talented, ensemble cast surrounding Craig, including Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista. Fans have remained curious about how the sequel will compare to the original leading up to the film’s expected release later this year. Now, Johnson has offered some insight into how he approached the franchise’s latest installment.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the creator of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Rian Johnson, explains what makes the sequel different from the original 2019 film Knives Out. Johnson assures fans that he is aware of common missteps in executing sequels, such as relying too much on what made the original film a success instead of focusing on originality. Check out what he had to say below:
I wanted to establish right off the bat that every single [Knives Out movie] is going to be a very different animal. Each one of them must have its own reason for being and its own theme. It’s not just repeating a formula, but using this genre to create a whole new formula every time. Sometimes with series or sequels, it can become weird, stratified, fossilized from the previous movies. The fun thing to me is genuinely creating something fresh and new.
Johnson Is Known For Creating Different Kinds Of Sequels
Fans eagerly awaiting the film can rest assured knowing that Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery will not be Johnson’s first experience with creating a compelling sequel. Johnson previously wrote and directed Star Wars: The Last Jedi, released in 2017 as the second installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following 2015’s The Force Awakens. The film received critical acclaim and commercial success, with many praising Johnson for delivering narrative twists while honoring the franchise’s legacy and maintaining the saga’s core themes.
Johnson’s experience and innovative approach are sure to produce a successful Knives Out sequel. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10 and has already received glowing reviews from critics. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is scheduled to have a limited one-week theatrical release starting on November 23 before its streaming release on Netflix on December 23.
