Daniel Craig is pushing Netflix for a theatrical release of the upcoming Knives Out 3. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is a standalone sequel and the third installment of the whodunit franchise, with Craig all set to return as the super sleuth detective, Benoit Blanc. Now, when asked if he believes the film deserves a wide theatrical run, Craig said the crime sequel should play in theaters for longer than one week, telling Variety:
“You know I do. Hopefully, Netflix will push it out a bit, and people will get to see it. The people I speak to — the fans, I suppose — all they want to do is take their families and go see it at the cinemas. That’s all they want to do. Hopefully we can give them that experience.”
The film is set to land next Fall 2025, with director Rian Johnson returning to helm the third film. Academy Award nominee Glenn Close, Josh O’Connor (Challengers), Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla), Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) and Daryl McCormack have joined the cast of the third installment. Craig’s thoughts on the theatrical release come following his and Johnson’s reported unhappiness with the roll-out of prior installment, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Knives Out fans might remember hearing reports of a tense exchange between lead actor Daniel Craig and Netflix co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, at the TIFF 2022 premiere of the follow-up. Craig allegedly criticized the decision not to release Glass Onion in theaters and the streamer’s flawed business model. Other producers for the film were reportedly dissatisfied with the straight to streaming release, believing it could have been a box-office hit if it had it been shown theatrically before landing on the platform.
Is The Netflix Model Bad for Movies?
Some believe releasing in theaters first is a no-brainer. Running a traditional cinema circuit means that a film can qualify for awards and support theaters. Then again, the exclusivity of straight to streaming allows Netflix to report higher viewership numbers. While the tension between the streamer and the Knives Out duo Craig and Johnson has been simmering for a while, this is just one of recent reports examining Netflix’s business deals.
Just days ago, director Emerald Fennel reportedly rejected Netflix’s $150 million dollar offer to distribute her anticipated Wuthering Heights adaptation starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. While the offer was very lucrative, Fennell and producer Margot Robbie are reportedly seeking out a distribution deal that includes a theatrical release, with some citing their commitment to traditional cinema and supporting theaters as non-negotiable.
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Director Greta Gerwig is rumored to be in similar talks with Netflix regarding a theatrical release for her adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia, with fans awaiting anxiously to find out if they will get to see the epic on the silver screen. There is clearly an audience for the films, but Netflix seems determined to prioritize its business model above traditional methods. It will be interesting to see how the company responds to the consumer and industry opinion as they debate the value of theatrical releases vs streamers.
Some might say the cinematic experience is essential for a film’s cultural resonance and financial success, while others might argue that driving and keeping subscribers to the streaming platform requires exclusive, competitive offerings with a-list talent and big-name features. Bit, if Netflix wants to continue to work with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, then they may need to compromise eventually.