It’s safe to say that Daniel Craig is the man of the hour, having been named Hollywood’s highest paid actor for 2021 just recently. 2021 also happens to be a milestone year for the actor as he marks the end of his involvement with the long-running James Bond franchise. The British actor originally decided to exit after the 2015 film Spectre but was convinced to return for a final installment.
With production on No Time to Die wrapped up, Craig is now setting his sights towards the future, which ultimately includes two future Knives Out films (the deal may be credited for bringing his net worth to an estimated $160 million). The role is quite a departure for an actor who is often associated with action flicks. And even today, fans wonder what made Craig say yes to critically acclaimed film in the first place.
It Was A James Bond Delay That Made It Possible For Him To Do This Movie
Around the time that director Rian Johnson was putting together the film’s cast, Craig was supposedly hard at work on No Time to Die. However, the film’s then-director, Danny Boyle, suddenly decided to exit the project, citing “creative differences.”
As production on the film halted and the search for a new director was underway, Craig found himself available for other projects. And that’s essentially when Johnson came to him with Knives Out. The director wasn’t exactly eyeing him for the part of detective Benoit Blanc but he admits Craig was on the “top of my list.” “I’ve learned that you’ll always get your heart broken if you have your eyes set on somebody because the schedule will always not work out or something will happen,” he explained while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter.
Interestingly, the delay just gave Johnson and Craig enough time to work together. Of course, they got things going quickly. “Then it was a very serendipitous moment when the Bond movie pushed three months,” Johnson explained. “It was just a logistic thing, they pushed their schedule, so he suddenly had a window open and we got in there right away and he said yes right away, and we were making the movie right away.”
Here’s Why Daniel Craig Agreed To Do Knives Out
Even he already had a busy production schedule, Craig knew straight away that he had to carve out some time to do Knives Out. After all, the character is one that he rarely encounters. “I don’t get to play parts like this very often,” the actor explained during an interview with the South China Morning Post.
At the same time, it was the comedic moments in the script that convinced Craig to sign on. “The satisfaction of watching the film with an audience and them laughing at the same gags I laughed at when I first read it,” the actor remarked. “There’s such joy and satisfaction to that.”
A Sequel Wasn’t In the Cards, At First
Despite the success of Knives Out, Johnson himself was unsure if he would do a follow up to the film initially. “There’s a lot that has to happen: First and foremost, I have to write a script that’s worth a damn, so we’ll see,” the director even told Entertainment Weekly when asked about a possible sequel in 2020. “I don’t want to jump the gun, but it’s something I would love to do.”
Then, in February 2020, Lionsgate announced that it has decided to move ahead with a sequel during its quarterly earnings call. But then, earlier this year, it was announced that Netflix successfully acquired the rights for both Knives Out 2 and Knives Out 3. The deal is estimated to be worth at least $450 million. Moreover, it reportedly came with two contingencies. First, each of the film must have a budget that is, at least, equal to the first film. Second, Craig must star in both movies.
For the record, Craig was always willing to do another Knives Out movie. “Sure,” the actor confirmed when asked about the possibility of reprising his role in the movie. “I’d be over the moon.”
He’s Willing To Work With Rian Johnson Beyond The Knives Out Films
Long after the two Knives Out installments are done, its seems that Craig is up for other onscreen challenges, so long as its Johnson behind the camera. “I mean, I’d do anything for Rian,” the actor remarked. “If he writes something, I’ll do it. Of course, I will. Why wouldn’t I? I had a ton of fun doing it. You aim for that every time, you aim for that to work out. It rarely, rarely does, but it did on that movie and how nice is that?”
Johnson has no other announced future projects following Knives Out 3. But perhaps, when he does, Craig will be among the first to know.
