Oscar-winning ‘Glass Onion’ production designer: The interior of the billionaire mansion must have been so bad it’s good [TYLKO U NAS]

Knives Out is Rian Johnson’s 2019 hit. The filmmaker not only directed it, he also wrote the screenplay for the film, for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. In the case of the second part of “Glass Onion” it was the same. Daniel Craig reprises his starring role and is joined by stars such as Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista.

“Glass Onion”. “I’ve done the impossible again”

For Daniel Craig, returning to the character of Benoit Blanc and his pretentious accent was a matter of course before the last slap was taken on the set of the first part.

We talked about a sequel while we were filming Knives Out, but in this industry you’re really at the mercy of the gods of cinema. You think to yourself, ‘It’s great and it would be nice to do it again, but what about the viewers and the critics?’ Fortunately, Knives Out turned out to be a successful venture. We knew it was a great thing, but no one expected such success. It wasn’t until we realized its popularity that we started talking seriously about the direction of the sequel

Craig recalls.

Rain Johnson wrote the screenplay for “Glass Onion” during the pandemic, so it seemed right for him to set the action in sunny Greece. At that time, probably all the people locked up during the lockdown missed holidays. The director decided that this time an unusual group of friends would be involved in the case.

Benoit Blanc meets them on his way to billionaire Miles Bron’s mansion for their annual reunion. Among the invited are Bron’s former business partner Andi Brand, Connecticut governor Claire Debella, scientist and innovator Lionel Toussaint, fashion designer and former model Birdie Jay with an assistant named Peg, and influencer Duke Cody and his girlfriend Whiskey. Each of the characters, of course, has their own behind the ears. “Each of these people is in some way subordinate to the billionaire Miles Bron,” says Johnson, who is fascinated by the work of Agatha Christie and a fan of crime fiction.

“The film’s joy and light-heartedness, its satire and slapstick elements, is a result of the fact that we really had a great time,” Edward Norton recalls working on the set. “Rian is a master at selecting actors, which gives you the opportunity to work with fantastic people. In terms of casting, for both films we were lucky to have really funny people who could get into the mood,” adds Daniel Craig.

“If you ever find yourself in a situation where Rian Johnson is the decision maker, just go along with whatever he proposes,” Leslie Odom Jr.

– When it comes to this group of actors, I really had the impression that I managed to do the impossible again. Just like with the first film, I had the feeling that I was dealing with a group of really outstanding professionals who I also enjoyed working with, and that doesn’t always happen – admits director Rian Johnson.

Daniel Craig and Rian Johnson, ‘Glass Onion’ Set John Wilson/NETFLIX

Scenery like a luxury hotel

Oscar-winning production designer Rick Heinrichs faced a difficult task when working on the visual side of the film. From the quirky interiors and Glass Onion office in Miles Bron’s lavish villa to the bathtub in Benoit Blanc’s New York apartment to the YouTuber’s garage, it all took a lot of sketching.

Fortunately, writer-director Rian Johnson, with whom Heinrichs had already collaborated on The Last Jedi, turned out to be a good working partner. “It was exactly like before. Rian as a director is very open to cooperation. It is unusual that he writes scripts for his films himself. I appreciate the fact that the director not only helps us position the camera in the set design, but first comes up with ideas on how the set should look like. He knows what he wants. So I can confidently go to him and confront my ideas with his inner conviction, what will fit and what will not – says the set designer.

Everyone agreed on one thing from the start: the inside of billionaire Miles Bron’s mansion must have been so bad it was good:

One of the questions from the beginning was ‘is this literally a glass onion or is it some sort of dome that Miles could point to and say it’s a glass onion’, can you believe it? We certainly had to find a middle ground, but Rian pushed for something that represented Miles as a character. To me, it was something like Miles’ big head and his inflated self-esteem.

This celebration of Miles’ big ego was evident in every corner of the atrium where most of the film takes place.

Edward Norton and Daniel Craig Netflix / ‘Glass Onion’ / Press Releases

“Rian eventually became convinced that there must be a collection of art, through which Miles presents himself as rich enough to own all these famous works by famous artists,” he recalls of works by artists such as Francis Bacon.

– There is also an unusual collection of glass art, which was a completely new challenge for us. The entire dining room was also part of the atrium, where there is a large mural of Kanye West painted on it as a way of showing who Miles is friends with. And of course there is a portrait of Miles. Our inspiration was Lucian Freud, an amazing painter, who we intertwined with other artists we included. Conscientious viewers will notice his recognizable style in the portrait of a billionaire. His wealth, bad boy image, inventive ego and desire to impress others were all part of it.

Heinrichs used his sculpting experience to create dozens of decorative glass trinkets.

“These were unique glass sculptures created specifically for this purpose,” he says. – To make them, I drew them and sent them to one of my art directors as far as Prague, where there is a whole basin of glass artists. They bring the silica to a certain temperature and rotate it, then modify it to shape it. Learning about these processes is one of the reasons why I love working in the film industry, otherwise I would never have known about it. I got very involved in it, literally watching things put in and out of the oven.

Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc ‘Glass Onion’ / Netflix / Press materials

If viewers enjoy Heinrichs’ work as much as the cast of “Glass Onion,” then there’s no reason to worry. – It’s amazing. They managed to make Miles’s house reflect his character exactly,” says Janelle Monáe. And emphasizes:

You could say: of course he would choose these particular paintings for his home. They just hit the spot. The house in Greece itself was amazing, but our jaws dropped when we arrived.

“It was one of the most comfortable places I’ve ever been,” says Bautista. “In between filming, we felt like we were in a five-star resort. It was something beautiful. It was amazing to see these works of art, even knowing they weren’t real. Basquiat hung on the wall and I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I wanted to steal it. I was nervous because it seems I wanted to buy back some of these works, but they told me that they had to destroy them after filming was over. Nevertheless, I offered a certain sum.

One of the cast members was so fixated that she had a little mishap. “At one point I was so distracted that I put my hand in one of the glass sculptures and couldn’t get it out,” recalls Madelyn Cline with a laugh:

I just wanted to walk around and touch everything. I felt like a child in a museum – I was fascinated by the level of detail of all these works.

Cast on “Glass Onion”: Rian is a brilliant screenwriter

“It’s a film that viewers will love to scrutinize, and laugh their heads off with,” says Monáe. “I hope they share the joy with which we made it happen.

Apart from the pleasant atmosphere on the set, the actors are pleased that the film not only provides entertainment, but also has something to say. “On the one hand, we have joy, enthusiasm and the fulfillment of desires, and on the other, an extremely compelling story about the balance of power and the human lust for power and control, which together give the film a deeper structure,” says Kate Hudson. “A brilliant screenwriter, Rian was able to write a contemporary satire on the dynamics of social relationships without using too obvious means,” adds Norton.

Edward Norton on set Netflix / Glass Onion – Press materials

Everyone, without exception, liked the crime mystery that is the axis of the plot. “I love well-made mysteries. Of course, there are completely predictable productions, which confirms my belief that the key to surprising the viewer is a well-written script in the hands of the right director – and that was our goal with this film. Rian has done a great job and it’s reassuring to know you’re watching a film made by a talented filmmaker. I think that’s the impression you get when you watch Rian Johnson’s movies, which I love myself.

“I think Agatha Christie herself would like both films,” says Edward Norton confidently. will show the film on December 23.