Janelle Monáe to Join Cast of ‘Knives Out 2’
Janelle Monáe is the latest addition to Knives Out 2, the sequel from Netflix and director Rian Johnson. Monáe’s casting comes two months after the streaming site purchased the rights for subsequent films in the Knives Out franchise.
Monáe, known for Moonlight, Hidden Figures, and Harriet, is the latest casting announcement for the murder mystery film, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The actress will be joining newcomers Edward Norton (Fight Club) and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy). Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) will pull double duty as the writer and director of the sequel. Additionally, he is partnering with Ram Bergman to produce the film. Production will begin later this year in Greece.
Janelle Monáe being in the Knives Out sequel is about the best news i could’ve heard today
— hunter rapp (@hrwashere) May 12, 2021
Daniel Craig, a member of the original film’s cast, will return to the screen as detective Benoit Blanc. Knives Out followed Detective Blanc as he navigated complex familial relationships and the death of an eccentric mystery novelist, played by the late Christopher Plummer. Craig starred in the film alongside Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Lakeith Stanfield, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Netflix has yet to release any details to confirm that Craig is the only actor reprising his role or if any of the original cast will be joining him.
The sequel is just the first of Netflix’s two-movie, $450 million deal, compared to the first film’s budget of $40 million. However, Knives Out grossed over seven times its original budget in revenue, and fans are already anticipating the release of the sequels. It is unclear whether the films will have theatrical releases like the original or go straight to streaming. One thing is sure—fans are living for the new cast.
oooooo janelle monae in knives out 2 it keeps getting better and better
— be gay do crime (@maraslesbian) May 12, 2021
Oh my god. @JanelleMonae is going to be in the Knives Out sequel.
— Olivia A. Cole (@RantingOwl) May 12, 2021
Ask me if I’m shrieking.
The Knives Out casting news comes after Monáe’s successful 2020 acting career with Antebellum and The Glorias. Monáe began her entertainment career in music, with the latest album, Dirty Computer, becoming a critical and commercial success. While there are currently no details of the plot, fans are eager to see what role Monáe will play in the murder mystery.
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