The iconic ‘Whodunnit’ franchise Knives Out’s ensemble cast is getting bigger and bigger with each passing movie. In the upcoming third installment, Daniel Craig will be reprising his role as Detective Benoit Blanc and will star alongside a slew of well-known Hollywood actors. According to Deadline, MCU star Jeremy Renner has also joined the cast.
Note that, as of now, it is unclear if Renner will be playing himself or a new character. However, some skeptics have raised concerns that the trend of casting MCU stars as villains in the franchise may have gone too far, potentially ruining the original charm of the series. How?
Chris Evans—who was most known for portraying Captain America, the ultimate good guy superhero— was cast as a villain in the first Knives Out movie. Then Edward Norton was chosen to play the spoilt tech billionaire (Miles Bron) villain in the follow-up film.
Daniel Craig’s Knives Out Franchise Casts Another MCU Star: Jeremy Renner
Like previous installments in the Knives Out series, the upcoming third flick also features ensembles brimming with star power. With his forthcoming role alongside Daniel Craig in Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner has found his next big film project. The Avengers star will appear alongside Kerry Washington, Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Glenn Close, and Andrew Scott, according to a report from Deadline.
Rian Johnson will helm the film, and Craig will reprise the role of famed detective Benoit Blanc. The plot’s specifics are not entirely clear. The last released film, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, came out in 2022. Production of the new installment is set to start next month, with Netflix planning to release it sometime in 2025.
Renner’s casting comes just days before the return of his critically acclaimed series, Mayor of Kingstown. He has embarked on his first feature film project following an incredible comeback from a nearly fatal snowplow accident in early 2023.
Following numerous surgeries and innumerable hours of rehabilitation and physical therapy, Renner would go back to reprise his starring role on the popular Paramount+ series, Mayor of Kingstown, which is scheduled to premiere its third season this coming weekend.
However, some fans worry that the recurring casting of MCU stars as villains in the Knives Out films may detract from the originality and surprise factor that made the franchise so successful. After Evans and Norton, with Renner joining the cast, it begs the question: Are they running out of fresh ideas for casting villains, or is this just a clever strategy to draw in die-hard MCU fans?
Fan Reactions: MCU Stars Embracing Villainy in Knives Out Franchise
It’s no secret that MCU actors have a loyal fan base, so it’s no surprise that the Knives Out franchise would want to capitalize on that popularity. As the anticipation for the third film in the acclaimed franchise continues to build, fans are buzzing with excitement over the addition of Jeremy Renner to the star-studded cast.
Renner’s face was seen on a bottle of hot sauce in the first flick, so it is a kind of return to the franchise. But as aforementioned, it is unclear if the actor will be playing himself or a new role. With Chris Evans and Ed Norton earlier appearing as villains in the acclaimed series, some fans have expressed concern about the series’ repeated casting of MCU stars.
Some worry that the trend may dilute the original charm of the Knives Out films. That being said, many speculations have been made about Renner’s role in this upcoming project. Let’s see what fans are saying via X:
Now we know who the killer is… 😉
— @🄻🄱🄾🄷🅁🅃 in #StarWars #TPM25 mode (@leobohrt) May 30, 2024
He's the killer , always an MCU actor has been
— Ryan Lewis (@Ryanlew99321988) May 30, 2024
hoping he's playing a fictional version of himself who's just constantly plugging his line of hot sauce pic.twitter.com/grspnvWAvw
— Noah ⎊ (@NoahIsAHuman) May 30, 2024
Guess we know who the villain is lol
— ObbyDent (@GamingOblivion) May 30, 2024
An Avengers kills in Knives Out Franchise
Hawkeye joins , Cap and Hulk— ARYAN SINGH (@aryan__3) May 30, 2024
I’m assuming he’ll be playing himself this time since Jeremy Renner’s hot sauce was a thing in the last movie.
— FrequentUser99 (@FrequentUser99) May 30, 2024
If Renner is cast as the villain in Knives Out 3, could this be the piece of the puzzle that turns amateur guesswork into a prophetic insight?
As a dedicated fan who’s followed the actor’s career from indie films to superhero blockbusters, it’s clear that his acting chops could bring a thrilling new dynamic to Rian Johnson’s beloved mystery series. We might not have a crystal ball—or Daniel Craig’s southern drawl—but the prospect alone is enough to ignite the imagination of mystery lovers.
Despite the debate over the casting choices, the buzz surrounding Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is higher than ever!
Knives Out 3, which boasts a cast full of A-listers, is scheduled to hit theaters sometime in 2025.
