The surprise At loggerheads
It took a long time for Rian Johnson to finally understand At loggerheadsa project he’s had in mind since the mid-2000s yellow and big-screen adaptations of Agatha Christie’s stories, wants to modernize the genre by offering an original film. He plans to shoot it first after the film Loopersreleased in 2012, but ultimately had to wait until he canned it Star WarsEpisode VIII: The Last Jediwhich comes out in December 2017.
Soon after the release of The Last JediRian Johnson then begins the script ofAt loggerheads and the constitution of its cast. Originally, Daniel Craig, who plays the main role of the private investigator Benoît Blanchad before declined the proposal. In fact, the filming then scheduled for the end of 2018 falls precisely at the same time as that of Death can wait. Contractually bound by his role as James Bond, it is therefore impossible for Daniel Craig to accept the programAt loggerheads.
But, eventually, the planets align. Danny Boyle, due to artistic differences, abandons the production of Death can wait. A departure that causes a three-month delay in the filming of the 25th James Bond film, and therefore frees up Daniel Craig’s schedule.
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Critical and commercial success
In this mystery film, which plays both pure detective intrigue and dark humor, Daniel Craig is surrounded by a brilliant cast. We find in particular Ana de Armas, Michael Shannon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson and Chris Evans, Toni Collette and Christopher Plummer.
Famed crime writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead on his palatial estate on the evening of his 85th birthday. With a sharp mind and good-natured demeanor, Detective Benoit Blanc is then hired by an anonymous sponsor to clear up the case. But with Harlan’s family tearing itself apart and his staff remaining devoted to him, Blanc immerses himself in the twists and turns of an investigation
When it was released in November 2019, At loggerheads was a great success at the box office, grossing more than $310 million in revenue on a production budget estimated at 40 million dollars. The audience is therefore enraptured At loggerheads, and the specialized press is convinced of it. Overall, this highlights the quality of the script’s structure, its satirical and political dimension, as well as the entertaining performances of its prestigious cast.
At loggerheads was then nominated in various award ceremonies and Rian Johnson got it in particular an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 2020, his first.
Netflix breaks the bank
The performance ofAt loggerheads is notable in that it is one of the few independent films of 2019 original screenplay having managed to do well in an industry scandalously dominated by already extended franchises and universes – the Top 10 at the global box office this year is made up exclusively of sequels, remakes or adaptations of known universes -.
Very quickly, in early 2020, Rian Johnson announced that he was working on the first sequel to At loggerheads. Sensing the right opportunity, Netflix, Amazon and Apple launched auctions to acquire the rights. It is Netflix that wins them, for astronomical and therefore record sums $469 million. For this amount, Netflix purchased two sequels, in which Daniel Craig had to reprise his role as Benoit Blanc.
The first of these sequels, Glass Onion: a story of unsheathed daggersreleased in December 2022. This is a new critical success for Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig, the actor surrounded once again by prestigious casting. Glass Onion stands out for an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2023.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
