It goes without saying that every screenwriter, director, producer, actor – even the catering manager – hopes for their project to make Hollywood history upon reaching its audience.
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After all, to go the way of The Godfather, No Country for Old Men or, for that matter, any of the most highly regarded movies in history is a dizzying height to which many aspire and only a few climb. Still, it can – and, evidently, does – happen, and one more contemporary example of Hollywood’s ongoing capacity for originality and acclaim is Rian Johnson’s all-star murder mystery, ‘Knives Out’, which first made its way to audiences in the fall of 2019.
Starring Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson and Christopher Plummer, Knives Out proved an instant success among fans and critics alike, with critic David Rooney deeming it ingeniously plotted, tremendously entertaining and deviously irreverent, and the movie attaining an enviable 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Now, it looks as though Netflix is preparing to get in on a ‘slice’ of the action, with some reports suggesting that the global streaming giant has paid an eye-watering $450 million for the rights to two sequels. Read more below.
The Changing Face Of Content Acquisition
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Netflix’s staggering investment into highly anticipated content is nothing new – nor is it unique to the realm of movie streaming. It comes at a time when the digital entertainment industry is rapidly ascending to new heights – from the rapid acquisition of sports streaming rights to the next generation of gaming. Just last month, for instance, the massively popular gaming site Casumo struck a momentous deal with 1×2 Network, ensuring that it has further augmented its status as the leading destination for those looking to play live casino, table games, and video slots.
At the other end of the scale, a prodigious $7 billion deal has been rolled over to ensure that streaming giants like Amazon and BT retain rights to the English Premier League until 2025, while Amazon also has plans to purchase the US movie studio MGM for almost $8.5 million.
Companies from all sides of the entertainment industry are, it seems, settling in for the long haul in a landscape that is only continuing to grow more and more competitive, and vertiginous.
Plans For The Sequels
Obviously, a large part of Knives Out’s allure among prospective audiences was its all-star cast, and Netflix would most definitely be finding itself up a creek without a paddle had it failed to secure an equally prestigious cast for its multimillion-dollar sequels.
While it is early doors yet – the movie has yet to begin filming, although it is rumoured to kick off this June in Greece – fans can rest assured that Daniel Craig, who portrayed the movie’s sleuthing protagonist, will do doubt be returning for a reprise of his role as Benoit Blanc.
The rest of the details still need to be confirmed, but the likes of Dave Bautista and Edward Norton have already been confirmed for the movie, alongside Moonlight star Janelle Monáe.
And, while a sequel to Knives Out will be another year (at the very least) fans of the movie can anticipate plenty more all-star action will find its way onto Netflix’s seminal platform.
