A whopping deal will see Daniel Craig return twice more as super sleuth Benoit Blanc in a pair of Knives Out follow-ups.
We all know that Netflix is not averse to splashing the cash sometimes. In fact, the streaming giant is fond sometimes of making a ‘statement purchase’, just to remind the world who the number one streaming platform is. A deal in the works at the moment, according to Deadline, certainly qualifies in this regard on more than one level.
Firstly, Netflix is expected to acquire not one, but two Knives Out sequels, along with the services of director Rian Johnson and star Daniel Craig. In turn it’s picked up an already – after just one movie – beloved and popular series that, in the spirit of the Agatha Christie stories it lovingly homages, could become a Netflix staple for years to come.
Secondly? The price. $400m for two movies.
With the original film costing an estimated $40m to make, the deal with Netflix is an extraordinary coup for Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman who own the rights to the property and are free to license further films to whom they see fit.
From Netflix’s perspective, the vastly-inflated price it’s set to pay (in comparison with the first film’s production budget) acts as a shot across the bows of Apple and Amazon, the other streaming platforms who were reportedly in the bidding process, reminding them of the kind of cash they’ll have to stump up to maintain a footing in ‘the streaming wars.’
Knives Out was one of the best movie successes of 2019, so it’s great to hear that the creatives involved will be getting a chance to make another two films and to earn what sounds like a lot of money.
For Rian Johnson, the original film was a chance to make something personal following the juggernaut that was The Last Jedi, whilst for Daniel Craig, the project allowed him to do something fun whilst No Time To Die sat in traction following then-director Danny Boyle’s exit.
That sense of freedom (as well as some amazing knitwear) really elevated the film’s sense of playfulness and with all concerned hopefully dong well out of this deal, we’re sure that will continue in the sequels. More news on this one as we hear it.
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