People can't stop fantasy casting 'Knives Out 2'

Netflix invested big in Rian Johnson, shelling out a whopping $450 million for a pair of sequels to The Last Jedi and Looper director’s much-loved 2019 whodunit Knives Out. The director quickly went to work building a cast that could give The Avengers envy.  

So far, the untitled sequel has added a murderer’s row of would-be murderers. So far it includes Oscar nominees Leslie Odom, Jr., Edward Norton and Kate Hudson; singer/actress Janelle Monáe; comic treasure Kathryn Hahn; and zombie slayer/Guardian of the Galaxy Dave Bautista — any of whom would look fetching in a well-worn cable-knit sweater. 

The cast will reportedly head to Greece to join the original’s only returning star, Daniel Craig, whose motor-mouthed southern-fried Benoit Blanc instantly entered the detective hall of fame with his thick drawl and penchant for elaborate doughnut-based ramblings. 

Knives Out netted $311 million on a $40 million budget. Audiences fell in love with its quirky Agatha Christie-inspired plot and an ensemble that included Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Christopher Plummer, Don Johnson, LaKeith Stanfield, Toni Collette, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas wrapped up in murder mystery involving the squabbling heirs to a writer’s fortune.  

The sequel has remained at the top of people’s minds thanks to near-daily announcements of casting (in all likelihood, a new name has been announced since you started reading this). And online, fantasy casting has become something of a national pastime, with fans and industry watchers trying to predict the next rogue to hit the gallery… and offering up their own suggestions. 

Some eagle-eyed fans have been keeping an eye on social media to predict new cast members, doing detective work that would make Benoit Blanc himself proud.

Others have suggested wresting beloved characters out of retirement for a big comeback.

One suggestion that would really blow Blanc’s mind: Transporting one TV ensemble into a film ensemble.

Johnson’s film could bring bring in Agatha Christie’s lead detective — and a clear inspiration for Blanc — to create some sort of “master detective cinematic universe…

… Alongside the queen herself, Jessica Fletcher.

Animated characters, too, have been lobbed into consideration.

As have characters that could turn the film into a full-blown descent into horror.

Some have suggested a spot in the cast as a reward for getting vaccinated.

The Hollywood Reporter, finally, wins the game with an inspired bit of typecasting that would surely function as one of cinema’s great red herrings.

Knives Out 2 is expected to release in 2022. Keanu Reeves is expected to be cast at any moment (we hope).

Check out Time Out’s 100 best thrillers to stream

And see what Time Out thought of the original film here