When Knives Out premiered in 2019, few expected that it would revitalize the whodunit genre to the tune of $311 million at the box office and wide critical acclaim. It seemed certain that a sequel would be produced and Rian Johnson held all of the cards. As the writer, producer and director of the original film, he opened up the bidding for a new studio to release his burgeoning franchise and in March 2021, Netflix came out on top after having paid $469 million to acquire not one but two sequels and the first of these films, Glass Onion, recently dropped its first trailer to provide just a taste of what to expect.
The premise of the sequel is similar to the first film; Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc is tasked with solving a murder but this time, he is on a private Greek island at the invitation of a technology billionaire. Blanc is front and center of this trailer as he provides the majority of the voiceover heard in the trailer. He cautions the guests to stay in their rooms and be on guard for any danger that may befall them. This is definitely a welcome upgrade over the original film as Blanc was not expected to be so prominent or become so beloved a character.
As Blanc continues narrating the trailer, several of the film’s all-star cast are seen pouring over some kind of puzzle box that likely contains an invitation to this private island. The scenic location is showcased fairly prominently in the trailer and it can be reasonably inferred that the majority of the film will take place there. Much like Harlan Thrombey’s mansion in the original film, the mansion on this island is likely to be a character itself with loads of paintings, hidden rooms and numerous secrets to be discovered.
Also shown in the trailer is the biggest glimpse of the film’s all-star cast which includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista. Notably absent from the 90 second trailer is Ethan Hawke who is set to play an assistant to Norton’s character. It is possible that Hawke’s character could be the murder victim at the center of the story but that remains to be seen. These characters also seem to be larger than life with Hudson shown to be dancing and walking alongside a pool in a bathing suit and Bautista’s character even brandishing a firearm at this pool area. He is even brazen enough to fire a shot but if one looks closely at his gun, it is possible that this could be the murder weapon as it is seen being gripped by a gloved hand in another scene of the trailer.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is poised to not only boost Netflix’s continued viability as a streaming service but to further serve as a new franchise for Daniel Craig’s post James Bond career as he looks to break the trend of his predecessors in the role. Glass Onion will premiere in select theaters and will be available on Netflix on December 23, 2023.
Featured Image Credit: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Trailer
