Who doesn’t love a whodunit? That’s the question Netflix is banking on with upcoming mystery film Glass Onion, A Knives Out Mystery and its cast. Glass Onion is the first of two sequels to 2019’s Knives Out, directed by Rian Johnson. The first film was the second-highest grossing original movie at the 2019 box office, according to Deadline, and with a character like Daniel Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc, it’s no surprise that Johnson (and a streaming platform like Netflix) would see the potential of expanding that universe with additional mysteries for Blanc to solve.
Now, it looks like fans won’t have to wait too much longer for the new film: On August 22, Netflix dropped the first photo of the cast from set, plus a global release date of December 23 (on Netflix, that is — the film will also be released in select theaters, though still no word on exactly when). The December 23 date is just in time for Christmas too; after all, if the first film taught us anything, it’s that nothing brings people together like a mystery.
Production started in Greece in June 2021, so it looks like we’ll all be going on vacation… from the comfort of our couches, at least. Per ET Canada, the official synopsis is as follows: “When a tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites some of his nearest and dearest for a getaway on his private Greek island, it soon becomes clear that all is not perfect in paradise. And when someone turns up dead, well, who better than Blanc to peel back the layers of intrigue?”
Perhaps most importantly, the announcement also included the names of the frankly stacked cast. Since the Knives Out series is now an anthology, most of these names are new to the story, and almost none of the original cast are included, save for Craig. Will any of these actors be able to capture the magic of Chris Evans in a fitted sweater? Only time will tell. In the meantime, though, take a look below at who’s going to be a part of Glass Onion, because the cast includes a handful of Marvel actors, a Gen Z darling, and some iconic A-listers.
Daniel Craig
As mentioned above, Craig is the only star to return from the first Knives Out film as detective Benoit Blanc, who solved the mystery of who killed crime novelist Harlan Thrombley. You probably also know Craig as the latest James Bond, though he completed his run as the iconic character in 2021’s No Time To Die.
Edward Norton
Edward Norton was the original Hulk, so can we count him as a Marvel star, even though it was short-lived? (More on Marvel later; you’ll start to see a theme.) Otherwise, Norton’s starred in films like Fight Club, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Grand Budapest Hotel. And unlike many of the other cast members, we do know who Norton is playing: Miles Bron, the billionaire who owns the private Greek island where the film’s mystery will play out.
Janelle Monáe
Who doesn’t know Janelle Monáe at this point? Not only has the multi-hyphenate starred in huge films like Best Picture winner Moonlight and nominee Hidden Figures, but she’s also a renowned musician for albums like Dirty Computer.
Kathryn Hahn
Though she receives much praise for her comedic roles in projects like Anchorman or We’re The Millers, Hahn has also proved herself as a dramatic actress — and even a great Marvel villain. She voiced Doc Oc in Into the Spider-Verse and most recently made waves as Agatha Harkness on WandaVision, so she can definitely hold her own as an antagonist. Could she be the villain in Glass Onion, too? Perhaps we should all have our eye on her.
Leslie Odom Jr.
Perhaps best known for originating the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton on Broadway, Leslie Odom Jr. isn’t new to the mystery genre, either — he had a role in the 2017 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. He’s also released his own solo music, but with everyone keeping mum on the plot of the film, there’s no telling whether or not his musical talents will be utilized in Glass Onion.
Jessica Henwick
Jessica Henwick might have a smaller filmography than some of her co-stars, but she’s no slouch — you can catch the British actress in huge franchises Game of Thrones and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Oh, and she’s also a Marvel alum (sensing a pattern yet?), having appeared as Colleen Wing in Iron Fist, The Defenders, and Luke Cage.
Madelyn Cline
Outer Banks fans, are you ready to freak out? As the only Gen Z’er on this list, Madelyn Cline might have big shoes to fill, but she might also bring something fresh to the cast of established, older actors. Could she be the “young person” equivalent to 13 Reasons Why’s Katherine Langford in the first film?
Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson needs no introduction: From her breakout role in Almost Famous to her roles in How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Bride Wars, and more, the woman can do it all, (remember her role on Glee?). It seems like the end of 2022 will be huge for her, too, since she also stars in the upcoming film Shriver.
Dave Bautista
To add one more cast member to the Marvel list, Galaxy of the Guardian Dave Bautista is also appearing in Glass Onion. Since his Marvel character, Drax, is such a fan-favorite and has been around for almost a decade at this point, it’ll be interesting to see how he shakes things up in a new role.
Ethan Hawke
Though he wasn’t named in Netflix’s official tweet showing the first pic from the movie, Ethan Hawke is also in the cast for Glass Onion. And with such an impressive filmography under his belt (The Dead Poets Society, Boyhood, the Before trilogy, and more), there’s no telling what Hawke might bring to the table.