Netflix paid big money to secure the rights to sequels to the smash hit Agatha Christie-style Knives Out last year, and judging from the new teaser trailer for the film’s first sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, it’s going to pay off in spades. Rian Johnson returns to write and direct the movie, which stars Daniel Craig as Southern gentleman detective Benoit Blanc once again finding himself smack dab in the middle of a most confusing case with multiple suspects played by multiple famous people. The Glass Onion teaser trailer introduces us to the fact that there is indeed a murder mystery and there are indeed famous people but doesn’t reveal much else except hype.
In the film, Blanc is invited to an island owned by a mysterious millionaire where he meets a collection of wealthy friends. It appears that said millionaire has set up a bit of a fun mystery to be solved, but what starts out as a game turns into something far more serious as murder is afoot! We should probably expect a few twists and turns and a shocking conclusion as Johnson executes another entertaining whodunit. More important, though, is that Daniel Craig is wearing an ascot in this movie, and I think we’re all ready for more ascots on Southern gentlemen in movies.
However, the film does not just star Craig. Johnson was able to pull in an even more impressive cast this time around given the fact that the Oscar-nominated Knives Out gave him plenty of clout. The film features (deep breathe) Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Jessica Henwick, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Madelyn Cline, Janelle Monáe, and Edward Norton. It’s a varied and fantastic cast, and just seeing Hahn deliver lines from a Johnson screenplay should be enough reason to get to the theater (Yes, it’s getting a theatrical release.) to see it.
“The reality is that what makes something successful is a story, and that’s true of a whodunit as well,” Johnson said of continuing the series. (He has another one for Netflix already in the works.) “Are there characters that you care about? Are you pulled through emotionally? Are you on a ride with them with this story? Then the revelation of it all coming together and the whodunit, and the fact that it is all layered in there, is part of the fun of the genre. But, in a way, it can’t be the spine that actually is supporting the body of the whole thing. You just need a good story.”
Basically, the only thing that isn’t exciting about Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is the damn name. I know they want to remind audiences that the films are connected, but take a hint from another Craig character and understand that you don’t have to tack on the name of the franchise for audiences to understand it’s all the same.
Glass Onion will release in select theaters on a soon-to-be-announced date and will come to Netflix worldwide on December 23. Check out some stills below.
