Knives Out sequels: Daniel Craig & Rian Johnson could make $100 million each

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

It was always assumed that Rian Johnson's enormously entertaining (and hugely successful) Knives Out would receive a sequel, but few could have predicted that Netflix would scoop up the whodunit franchise in a massive deal that will find Rian Johnson writing and directing two sequels starring Daniel Craig.

A new report from THR has dropped a few more details on the deal, which is even bigger than previously reported. It was initially said that the deal was in the $400-$450 million range, but the final number came out to $469 million, which is a little crazy. THR's sources have claimed that Rian Johnson, Daniel Craig, and producer Ram Bergman are looking to walk away with "upwards of $100 million"…each! "Yes, it’s overpaying but Netflix is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers," a streaming executive told THR. "It takes a proven theatrical commodity off the board and puts it in their pocket. And it’s another way they re-educate audiences to think of streaming and their company above a studio." The deal doesn't have many stipulations as it gives Rian Johnson complete creative control and means that he won't have to take any notes from Netflix, but it does say that Daniel Craig must star in the sequels and that they must have at least the budget of the original film, which cost somewhere in the realm of $40 million. I don't think that will be a problem.

The first Knives Out film was acquired in a single picture deal by MRC, who then distributed through Lionsgate, but Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman still controlled the rights to the franchise. When they began shopping the Knives Out sequels to other interested parties earlier this year, Johnson and Bergman weren't sure of the "near-term viability of theatrical releasing" due to the pandemic, which prompted a bidding war from streaming services. In any other year, the sequels likely would have remained with MRC and Lionsgate, but as we know, we're living through unusual times. Production on the first Knives Out sequel is expected to start on June 28th in Greece, which means that we should hear some casting news in the coming months.