Jeremy Renner, welcome to the “Knives Out” Cinematic Universe. He’s the latest star to join the cast of Rian Johnson’s whodunit “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.”
Other potential suspects in “Knives Out 3” include “Fleabag” actor Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, “Challengers” breakout Josh O’Connor and “Priscilla’s” Cailee Spaeny. And of course, Daniel Craig will reprise his role as the quirky sleuth at the center of it all, Benoit Blanc.
Plot details have yet to be revealed, but Johnson promises the third installment in the murder mystery series will be Blanc’s “most dangerous case yet.” The first installment, released in 2019 by Lionsgate, follows Benoit Blanc as he attempts to figure out who killed the renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey, who died on the night of his 85th birthday.
Blanc takes on an entirely new case in the sequel “Glass Onion,” released in 2022 by Netflix, revolving around a tech billionaire who invites his closest friends to a private island for a murder mystery game. It should be noted that Renner isn’t entirely new to the “Knives Out” franchise. The actor’s likeness (in the form of a fictional branded hot sauce) plays an integral role in the plot of “Glass Onion.”
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After the first film grossed a solid $312 million against a $40 million budget, Netflix bought the rights to the murder mystery series for more than $450 million. The follow-up briefly played in theaters before landing on the streamer. Netflix has not announced release plans for the third.
Renner, best known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has made a triumphant return to acting after a snow plow accident in January 2023 left him with blunt chest trauma and 30 broken bones. He’s also known for “Wind River” and “The Bourne Legacy.” Renner is currently starring the Taylor Sheridan Paramount+ series “Mayor of Kingstown.”
Deadline first reported the news of Renner’s casting.