Rian Johnson, director of the Knives Out franchise, has confirmed that lead character detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, is gay.

As reported by Insider, Johnson confirmed the news during a recent press conference at BFI London Film Festival, where he was promoting the Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion. The question about Blanc’s sexuality was prompted by a scene in the film that indicates the detective is living with another man.

• READ MORE: Knives Out review: Rian Johnson returns to fold with thrilling, expertly-crafted whodunnit

Responding to whether that means he’s queer, Johnson replied: “Yes, he obviously is.” Referring to the actor who plays Blanc’s lover (whose identity is currently under press embargo) the director added that “there’s nobody in the world I can imagine in bringing me more joy for Benoit Blanc to be with”.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the second film in the Knives Out franchise, following the 2019 original, sees Craig reprise his role as Blanc, with the detective travelling to Greece to solve his latest case. He stars alongside Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Jessica Henwick, Edward Norton, Dave Bautista, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr. and Madelyn Cline.

The film will be released in cinemas on November 23, before landing on Netflix exactly a month later (December 23). Last March, the streaming service acquired the rights to produce two sequels to Knives Out, both starring Craig.

The film debuted last month at the Toronto International Film Festival, with early reviews calling it “so much fun” and “an immensely enjoyable movie which is at least as funny as the first outing, if not more”.