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When Murder Mystery released in 2019 on Netflix, many didn’t expect another movie in the mystery comedy series. Nearly four years later, here we are waiting for the arrival of Murder Mystery 2. Considering the incredible success of the first film, it isn’t much of a surprise that the streamer ordered a sequel featuring the same lead cast. As you would have expected, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston are reuniting to reprise their roles from the first installment. In a recent announcement of their 2023 release calendar, Netflix disclosed the plot (which was under wraps all this time) for Murder Mystery 2. Here it is:
“Now full-time detectives struggling to get their private eye agency off the ground, Nick and Audrey Spitz find themselves at the center of an international abduction when their friend the Maharaja is kidnapped at his own lavish wedding.”
Supported by the promo images the streamer released earlier, it looks like Nick and Audrey have made sleuthing their full-time job now and they are heading to Paris to solve the new case. As expected, it’s sure to be another crazy, hilarious adventure along the way. Murder Mystery 2 is written by James Vanderbilt and directed by Jeremy Garelick, with Sandler serving as one of the producers.
This is the 10th Netflix original production that Sandler will have starred in, and that doesn’t include the upcoming movie, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah. On its release, Murder Mystery received mixed reviews and a lukewarm reception from critics. However, if numbers are any proof of a film’s success, it received 31 million views over the first weekend of its release, which was the highest for a Netflix film at its time. It also became one of the top 10 movies on Netflix, which could be due to the star power of Sandler and Aniston as the headlining cast. With the movie set for a March 2023 release, you can now catch up on the first installment to give yourself a taste of what to expect from the team. Also, if you are a fan of mystery comedies, then this is one of those films you can just run on the side and have a good laugh. And while you wait for the sequel, find out everything we know so far about Murder Mystery 2, including some plot details, the release window, cast and characters, and more.
Editor's Note: This article was last updated on January 31 with the trailer.
When Is Murder Mystery 2 Coming Out?
As per the latest news, Murder Mystery 2 is set to premiere on Netflix on March 31, 2023.
Is There a Murder Mystery 2 Trailer?
If you have been waiting all this time for the Murder Mystery 2 trailer then your patience has paid off. Netflix just released the official trailer for the mystery comedy, and it will blow you away. And that’s not just because Ariana Grande, Jessie J, and Nicki Minaj’s “Bang Bang” plays in the background of the trailer video. The clip opens with a van crashing into a café, with a clueless Nick and Audrey popping their heads out of a broken window. The clip then shows the Spitzes heading to the destination wedding of the Maharaja, the scenes change into a picturesque island and the colorful setting of a lavish Indian wedding, unfortunately (for them) punctuated by a dead body. From there on, it only gets crazier, wilder, and funnier. As is the trend with this couple, their vacation, once again, turns into a disaster. The only difference this time will be that Nick and Audrey will be working with a few familiar faces and not-so-friendly new faces. But other than that, you can expect the same kind of comical action, high-speed chases, and a whole lot of comedy of errors like the first movie in the upcoming sequel.
Who's In the Murder Mystery 2 Cast?
Besides Sandler and Aniston leading the cast, Murder Mystery 2 will also feature an ensemble cast, much like the first one. The mystery comedy sequel will see Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy star Mark Strong, Inglourious Basterds star Mélanie Laurent, After Yang star Jodie Turner-Smith, Money Heist's Enrique Arce, Scandal star Tony Goldwyn, Bad Moms star Annie Mumolo, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Zurin Villanueva, and Plan B star Kuhoo Verma, in various roles. Sandler stars as Nick Spitz, an NYPD cop who later becomes a detective, while Aniston stars as his wife, Audrey Spitz, a hairdresser, and a murder mystery novel buff. Adeel Akhtar also reprises his role as the Maharajah, while Black Panther star John Kani returns in his role of Colonel Ulenga.
Who's Making Murder Mystery 2?
In 2019, Kyle Newacheck directed the film with James Vanderbilt writing the script. For the sequel, although most of the team remains the same, Jeremy Garelick joins as the director, replacing Newacheck from the previous film, while Vanderbilt returns as the writer for the sequel. Garelick is a screenwriter, director, and producer who has previously directed the films The Wedding Ringer and The Binge, and the television series Best. Worst. Weekend. Ever., which he also wrote and produced. Vanderbilt is a reputed screenwriter and producer who is best known for his earlier popular projects like Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man, Independence Day: Resurgence, and 2022’s Scream. He has also written for the upcoming Scream sequel, Scream VI.
Sandler has been one of the producers for both films under his Happy Madison banner, with Vanderbilt, Allen Covert, Tripp Vinson, and James D. Stern. For the sequel, Aniston also serves as one of the producers under her production company, Echo Films.
When and Where Was Murder Mystery 2 Filmed?
Murder Mystery 2 started filming in the first quarter of 2022, with principal photography beginning in January 2022. Filming took place in Paris and Hawaii, as revealed by the cast and crew on their Instagram handles, and wrapped up in three months, ending in April 2022.
Do You Need to Watch Murder Mystery Before Murder Mystery 2?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. Technically you don’t need to watch the first one to follow the second. But, if you have never watched Murder Mystery and you're wondering what it’s all about, then you might want to give it a shot. Watching the first installment will also help familiarize you with the main characters, Nick and Audrey. But that’s about it. Although some of the other characters might be returning, they’ll be in a new plot, so their arcs are going to be different. So, even if you don’t watch the first film, and directly watch Murder Mystery 2, you will still be able to catch up on the background, since we are expecting that there will be some backstory to the protagonists. Murder Mystery is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
What Is the Story of Murder Mystery 2?
From the first movie, we get an idea of the couple and how they function (more like dysfunction) with each other. Nick Spitz is an NYPD police officer who has been trying for a long time to get promoted to detective. His wife, Audrey, is a hairstylist and a huge murder-mystery novel fan. They have been married for 15 years but they never got that international, luxury honeymoon they had planned, or at least what Nick had promised his wife. Then finally, on their 15th anniversary, they manage to live their travel dreams. But as luck would have it, their delayed honeymoon turns out to be a chaotic ride of murder and mayhem and their vacation turns into a crime-solving expedition.
The sequel is set sometime after the first movie, where Nick and Audrey are now private investigators and own an agency. After the thrilling experience they had on their previous trip, the Spitz decided to solve crimes full-time. But it’s hard to keep the business afloat with not enough cases and clients. Meanwhile, their friend, the Maharaja, is about to get married and for good or for bad, he gets kidnapped at his own wedding. The sleuthing duo sees this as a great opportunity to put their agency on the map and make some money out of the case if they can get it cracking.