'Knives Out 2': Janelle Monáe Joins Daniel Craig In Rian Johnson’s Murder Mystery

Janelle Monáe has been cast in the upcoming sequel of "Knives Out," reports say. The 35-year-old singer would join actor Daniel Craig, who reprises his role as detective Benoit Blanc. Former professional wrestler Dave Bautista and the "Fight Club" star Edward Norton were recently added to the cast.

The original star cast of the first installment included Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Michael Shannon, and Toni Collette. Details about the upcoming murder mystery are being kept under wraps, including whether or not any of the original film’s cast will join Craig in "Knives Out 2."

While several names are being reported by multiple outlets online, Netflix has not officially announced the casting. The streamer purchased the sequel rights for “Knives Out 2” and “Knives Out 3” for over $450 million in February 2021 after the first installment received an Oscar nomination and garnered $311.4 million at the box office. "Knives Out" was released through Lionsgate in 2019 and was made on a $40 million budget.

Rian Johnson, who directed the first installment, has returned for the sequel, while Ram Bergman will serve as a producer under the T-Street banner.

Monáe, primarily known for her work as an accomplished singer and songwriter, has some acting projects under her belt, including "Hidden Figures" and Phillip K. Dick’s "Electric Dreams."

In "Knives Out 2", Monáe might portray a role similar to Ana de Armas or LaKeith Stanfield's characters. Considering the wide range of characters she has played in previous movies, it will be interesting to see how she fits in the second installment.

Last year, Monáe was seen in a horror thriller, "Antebellum," and the historical drama, "The Glorias." She has also appeared in a TV series, "Homecoming," and narrated a documentary, "Sex, Explained," in 2020.

Another cast member, Norton, who played Bruce Banner in "The Incredible Hulk" and also starred in movies like "Birdman," "Alita: Battle Angel," and "Motherless Brooklyn," will be an interesting addition to the film.

Wrestler Bautista's acting career also seems to be skyrocketing as this will mark his another big project after "Army of the Dead" and "Guardians of the Galaxy." Since the names of the cast members are dropping on a daily basis, a user wrote on Twitter: "At this point, I won’t be surprised if Anya Taylor-Joy ends up joining the Knives Out 2 ensemble. Girl so hardworking she gotta pay the bills (sic)."

The filming of “Knives Out 2” will begin this summer in Greece.