By Grace Hogsten
Copy Editor
Following the success of “Knives Out” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” director Rian Johnson plans to make a third mystery film starring Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc, according to Business Insider.
The first two films in the series feature large casts to fill the genre’s requirement for an array of murder victims and suspects. The actors are known for their roles in superhero blockbusters, historical films, teen dramas, and more.
Due to the variety within the casts of the first two movies, fans wonder who will star alongside Daniel Craig in the franchise’s next installment. Here are our predictions and recommendations for the cast of the next film in the series.
Florence Pugh
Over the past few years, Pugh has starred in films ranging from Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling” to Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women.” She even made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in “Black Widow.”
Collider describes Pugh as “one of the most promising young actresses of her time.”
The actress continually demonstrates her artistic range and cultural relevance through strikingly different — yet widely beloved — roles, from Dani in “Midsommar” to Amy March in “Little Women.”
Pugh is a well-known actress who could portray any type of role needed for Johnson’s upcoming mystery movie; her experience in action films and thrillers prepares her to play either
murderer or victim, and her popularity will bring even more fans’ attention to the already-successful series.
Gemma Chan
Chan is an accomplished actress known for her roles in films like the romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians” and psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling.”
She is also one of the few actors to portray two characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; she played a supporting role in “Captain Marvel” and a starring one in “Eternals,” for which director Kevin Feige specifically requested her, according to an interview with Chan for Harper’s Bazaar.
Chan maintains a busy and successful career. One of her upcoming projects is a sequel to “Crazy Rich Asians,” in which she will reprise her widely-beloved portrayal of Astrid Young Teo as the character finds love, according to Screen Rant.
The actress would be an excellent choice for Johnson’s series due to her experience playing complicated characters such as Shelley in “Don’t Worry Darling” and Minn-Erva in “Captain Marvel.”
Her fame would also be valuable to the franchise; fans love the movies’ star-studded casts. Publications dedicate articles solely to detailing the celebrities in each film, such as Elle’s article “A Guide to the Celebrity Cameos in ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.’”
Hugh Jackman
Johnson’s mysteries are known for characters who are not who they seem to be, and Jackman could embody that role, as evidenced by his portrayal of complicated hero Wolverine in the “X-Men” franchise or his role in “The Prestige.”
Jackman could be the franchise’s next charming white man with a sinister secret, filling the shoes of Chris Evans and Edward Norton.
He would not be the only musically-talented actor to earn a role in the series — Christopher Plummer, who played the family patriarch in “Knives Out,” and Leslie Odom Jr., who played a scientist in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” can boast leading roles in well-known movie musicals.
Camila Mendes
Johnson has a history of casting young women from teen dramas in his mysteries: Katherine Langford of “13 Reasons Why” fame is a member of the “Knives Out” cast, and Madeleine Cline, known for “Outer Banks,” plays a suspect in “Glass Onion.”
To follow this pattern, “Riverdale”’s Camila Mendes would be a perfect suspect in the next “Knives Out” film. Her work on “Riverdale” and her starring role in Netflix’s original movie “Do Revenge” showcase Mendes’ dramatic acting and potential. She can deliver a snappy one-liner and play a mysterious girl with a secret — just about everything that Johnson’s series could ask of her.
Morgan Freeman
Finally, no movie in the “Knives Out” franchise would be complete without a mysterious older figure to keep the younger characters guessing.
Morgan Freeman is a household name whose extensive body of work — from action thriller “The Dark Knight” to drama “The Shawshank Redemption” — shows that he could portray this role perfectly; it is almost surprising that he did not star in either of the previous films.
As Johnson’s latest Beniot Blanc mystery moves further in its production, fans remain eager to see who the director casts to play the film’s villains and victims. Though the cast list remains unannounced for now, audiences can be certain that the movie will feature a star-studded cast of actors from some of the biggest cultural sensations and blockbuster franchises.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Photo Caption: Actress Camila Mendes is known for playing Veronica Lodge in the CW’s “Riverdale.”