The Knives Out franchise has become a hit with both critics and audiences. The first film was a reminder of a genre of cinema that is not being made anymore. Garnering such a positive reaction excited fans for a sequel. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery amplified the franchise by including more unique and colorful characters. The new cast succeeded in creating characters from a heightened and eerily similar modern reality. From celebrity influencers to doctors and tech billionaires, these personalities created a unique sequel. Like the original Knives Out, certain characters made a lasting impression.

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Good murder-mystery films have characters that do not survive until the end. That does not mean audiences could not see these characters in sequels. Rian Johnson has confirmed that he has begun writing Knives Out 3. There are no known details about what a third Knives Out film could be. Knowing nothing about the third film has not deterred fans from speculating about possible details. There is one question that plagues the mind of devoted Knives Out fans everywhere. Could familiar characters return in the eventual third film?

Ransom Needs to Return

     Lionsgate Films

Chris Evans’s performance in Knives Out became a hit among both critics and fans. Besides his fantastic sweaters in the film, Evans showed that he had more range than simply Captain America. His arrogant, immature, and evil Ransom Drysdale was a perfect first foil to Benoit Blanc. A character like Ransom is an ideal candidate to return in a third Knives Out murder mystery. Integrating the character in the story could happen in a relatively natural and organic way.

Certain murder-mystery stories require the hero to team up with a former adversary. In this universe, Blanc is heralded to be the world’s greatest detective. Any good detective needs an adversary or ally to keep them guessing. Ransom could be a recurring enemy for the renowned detective Blanc. Greed was the driving force behind Ransom’s murder of his beloved grandfather Harlan. Ransom had serious motivations to get his familial inheritance, no matter the cost. His willingness to commit murder could allow Evans to deliver an incredibly broad performance. The pent-up resentment toward Blanc could create a unique performance in a third story.

Evan’s potential role in a third film could even be the groundwork for a bigger scandal. Making him a Hannibal Lector-type figure for Blanc opens the door for other characters to return. Drysdale could be a pawn in someone else’s larger game against Blanc. If this theory comes true, it could be how another character returns. Bringing back a character from Glass Onion could tie both films together.

Bron Should Make a Comeback

     Netflix

Knives Out has been a massive success after two popular films. A third film should spin the entire franchise on its head. To keep things fresh for audiences, Blanc needs to stumble upon a case unlike any other. After two films he has ruined the lives of very nefarious and sometimes dumb criminals. One dumb criminal, in particular, should be the third film’s menacing antagonist. Edward Norton needs to make a return as the selfish evil genius Miles Bron. If he makes a comeback the franchise could explore a twist on the “whodunnit” story.

Johnson recognizes how audiences can compare Bron to Elon Musk. While an unintentional comparison, it is a satirical one within the story’s context. The character’s “weird relevance” could be expanded upon in a third film. Knives Out and Glass Onion have explored themes of both wealth and greed. A third Knives Out could explore the ego behind greedy and wealthy criminals. Exploring ego is the evolution this franchise needs for future Knives Out adventures.

Johnson can utilize Bron to describe resentments in the minds of the elitist class. Making Bron the villain can even open the door for other characters to return. Besides recurring enemies, Blanc could have some recurring allies. The end of Glass Onion had Bron’s “circle of friends” turn on him. Blanc could require the help of Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson) or Helen Brand (Janelle Monáe) to take Miles down again. Bringing back characters from both films could offer new and exciting dynamics to explore.

Johnson has expressed frustrations about Glass Onion having the subheading A Knives Out Mystery in the title. The goal of the franchise was to have separate mysteries with new characters. If any old character would return, their presence would have to fit in the context of the story. The most logical avenue would be Norton returning as the lead villain with a vendetta. His return could even open the door to characters from Knives Out making an appearance. Characters like Birdie or Helen have room to grow and evolve in a third film. Their evolution is based on Bron coming back for his own sort of justice and revenge.

Glass Onion introduced audiences to a different set of colorful characters. Each one was ripe with endless directions to grow. While any good detective story changes the cast per film, that does not mean Johnson would have to follow the rules. Making Bron the primary antagonist opens the door for any character to return. Their fellow hatred for Bron could make for a very different Knives Out.