Chris Evans’ cable-knit jumper. Daniel Craig’s questionable accent. Toni Collette’s perfect portrayal of a lifestyle guru. Yep, Knives Out was one of the best films of 2019. It had all the ingredients for a seriously fun whodunnit, including an amazing cast, a plot full of twists and turns, and a bloody big mansion (who doesn’t find rich people entertaining?). 

So fans will be delighted to hear that the Netflix sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, will be coming to the streaming platform sooner than we thought. Later this year on 23 December, to be precise. 

Although there’s still a little while to wait until we’re reunited with Craig’s private detective Benoit Blanc, Netflix has unveiled the first teaser trailer to tide us over.

“You expected a mystery,” the Southern sleuth declares as we see a new set of colourful guests arrive on a millionaire’s private island. “You expected a puzzle. But for one person on this island, this is not a game.”

Needless to say, they haven’t been summoned to paradise for a holiday, but because Benoit is investigating a mystery, hence why the characters are inspecting a puzzle box.

In the midst of it all, the brief flash of a gloved hand brandishing a gun tells us that things are about to take a sinister turn. Next thing we know, Craig’s Blanc is commanding the guests to lock the doors and stay in their rooms, because “everyone is in danger”.

Academy Award-nominated writer and director Rian Johnson has previously teased that Blanc will be getting a little more of the spotlight this time around. 

“You definitely get to know him a little bit better,” he told Tudum. “In the first one, because of the way it was structured, Marta, Ana de Armas’ character, was very much the protagonist. In a big way, Blanc was the threat.

“Whereas, in this one, Blanc gets an invitation to come to this murder mystery on this island. We’re very much meeting these people and getting into this world through his eyes.”

As well as paying homage to the 1968 Beatles song of the same name, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery will be trading the first film’s creaky Massachusetts mansion for a billionaire’s compound in Greece.

While many have deemed this to be the Knives Out sequel, we should actually be looking to well-known Detective Hercule Poirot (of Agatha Christie fame) for inspiration. In the same way that he drops into no less than 33 novels – all with different tones, structures and plots – Knives Out seeks to tell a similar long-lasting but ever-changing tale.

Along with Christie’s novels, Johnson has also taken inspiration from 1973’s The Last of Sheila. 

“There are absolutely some very clear inspirations that I took from it,” he explained. “First of all, it’s structured around a group of friends, or frenemies, who all have a power dynamic with one of their successful friends.

“It begins with him sending an invitation for them to come and play this murder mystery game at this exotic locale. In The Last of Sheila, it’s on his yacht, and everything ends up going horribly wrong. That is essentially how Glass Onion begins.” 

And as for what will unfold in the new film? Johnson has given us some sage advice when it comes to cracking the case ourselves: “It’s a rollercoaster and not a crossword puzzle.”

The British Film Institute (BFI) has also announced that Glass Onion will premiere initially on Sunday 16 October at London’s Southbank Centre, ahead of its release on Netflix.

As part of the 66th BFI London Film Festival, director Rian Johnson and cast members Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr, Kate Hudson and Madelyn Cline will all attend.

And if you can’t make it to the special screening, the Knives Out sequel will also be screening at a number of UK cinemas. 

Director Johnson said: “I’m thrilled to be back at LFF with Glass Onion, and it’s an honour to be closing the festival. A proper whodunnit really does belong in London, so it feels a bit like coming home!”

As reported in Deadline, Netflix has also secured a deal for two more instalments of the film so fans of the murder mystery franchise are in luck.

What will Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery be about?

The second Knives Out film will see enigmatic private detective Benoit Blanc return to solve another mystery revolving around a large cast of suspects. And yes, that means that Craig will be reprising his standout role.

It’s now been confirmed that Detective Blanc will be travelling to Greece in the new movie and will be peeling back the layers of a mystery involving a new cast of colorful suspects.

Who is in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery cast?

As well as The Hollywood Reporter confirming that Janelle Monáe will be joining the cast, other exciting cast members include Edward Norton (Fight Club), wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista and Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision). Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight) and Kate Hudson will also be joining the cast in yet-to-be-disclosed roles.

Unfortunately we cannot confirm if Evans’ favourite cable-knit jumper will make a return.

Hahn, who captivated us all as Agatha Harkness in WandaVision, shared some thoughts with Digital Spy on why she joined the cast.

She said: “Well, I love the ensemble of the first one. I was really turned on by, A) Rian Johnson’s filmmaking, B) that he has an impeccable reputation as one of the nicest humans, and C) the ensemble. It just looked like every character was so specific and that it seemed to be a lot of equal ball-passing in a really fun way [during the original].

“It just looked like a blast to be on the set because it looked like there was no ball-hogging – just everybody passing the ball to each other with such generosity.” 

Are there any other sneak peaks for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery?

Well, actually … yes.

Netflix has released an exclusive clip introduced by none other than Rian Johnson himself, giving us a sneak preview of what we can expect.

Alongside Johnson’s introduction and teasing of further plot details, we’re treated to a short scene that explores the complex and intricate puzzles that are sure to engulf the film.

In the clip, we see the characters seemingly working on various different puzzle boxes in different locations, working to unlock their respective games and reveal a prize: an invitation.

The mysterious invite to a private island seems to excite and entice the group. Oh, and there’s one small catch – there’s a murder to solve, too.

While the teaser doesn’t give much away of the wider plot – or include an appearance from everyone’s favourite southern-drawling detective – it certainly lets us know what we’re in for by way of quirky characters and dazzling conundrums. 

Needless to say, fans of Knives Out (read: us) are dizzy with excitement.

Seeing out the end of the year with another dose of Knives Out? We don’t think we’re ready.

When and where will Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery be available to watch?

The Knives Out sequel will be coming to Netflix as an early Christmas present on 23 December. And, of course, you can catch it in selected UK cinemas this October.

If you’re yet to watch the first film, or you want to revisit it for a thrill, it’s available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Images: Netflix; Lionsgate