Janelle Monáe Says She Still Has a Group Text with HerKnives OutCastmates: 'We Were Family First' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

From L: Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Edward Norton, Jessica Henwick, Janelle Monáe, Daniel Craig and Rian Johnson at the world premiere ofGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysteryin Toronto on Sept. 10, 2022.Photo: Vivien Killilea/GettyJanelle Monáeis still tight with herKnives Out"family.“The actor and singer famously appeared inRian Johnson’s 2022 filmGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, among a cast of other big-name stars likeEdward Norton,Kathryn Hahn,Leslie Odom Jr.,Kate HudsonandDave Bautista, plus returning starDaniel Craigas detective Benoit Blanc.As Monáe, 38, tells PEOPLE in a new interview to promote her partnership withAMC’s FearFest, “We all are close” to this day, nearly two years after the movie’s premiere.“We still have a group text thread called ‘The Green Room,’ " she adds. “And whenever anybody’s doing anything, even when they just shotthe newestKnives Out, we all were like, ‘Congratulations on wrapping, Rian, and Daniel.’ ““We still show each other love,” Monáe says.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Jessica Henwick, Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe inGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery(2022).John Wilson/NetflixTheWelcome to Marwenactor praises the cast’s “incredible bond,” which they formed while filming during the COVID-19 pandemic — something she “hate(s),” but on the flip side, gave them an “opportunity” to connect in a way they might not have gotten to otherwise.“We couldn’t go out, and we had to make sure we didn’t get sick. So we were sort of all in one hotel, and one space a lot,” Monáe recalls. “Andwe would play murder-mystery gameslikeWerewolfandAssassin, which was my favorite.““We were family first .. and when I say family first I would say that Rian, I have to give him a big pat on the back,” she adds. “It started with him and how he made me feel, and made us feel.“Specifically, theGlass Onionwriter-director, 50,wanted the cast"to have a really great human-to-human experience as family,” rather than “needing” something from them.“And that’s going to make the work feel, look and sound better when you’re coming in and you actually like the people,” Monáe says. “And culturally, which feels like we’re caring for each other, not because of how talented we are, but just as humans.“Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe at a photocall forGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysteryin London on Dec. 17, 2022.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImageThe upcoming third film in the anthology trilogy is titledWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mysteryand once again sees Craig, 56, back as Benoit Blanc, though it’s unlikely that any othercast members fromGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysterywill return.Several newcast members were announcedearlier this year, includingKerry Washington,Andrew Scott,Josh O’Connor,Cailee Spaeny,Jeremy Renner,Josh BrolinandMila Kunis.Glenn Closeis also among those joining the cast ofWake Up Dead Man,and she called filming the movie “trulyone of the best experiences of my life"when talking to PEOPLE in August.And while Monáe is not involved in the new film and doesn’t know anything about the plot, she tells PEOPLE she’s “a Rian Johnson fan for life” and “already at the movie theaters ready to watch it.“Of makingGlass Onionduring the pandemic, Monáe also says, “People were nervous, and we got to really be vulnerable and honest with each other about that. And I had the time of my life. That’s one of the highlights of my movie career so far.“Thefull schedulefor AMC’s FearFest, running all the way through Oct. 31, is available atamc.com.

From L: Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Edward Norton, Jessica Henwick, Janelle Monáe, Daniel Craig and Rian Johnson at the world premiere ofGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysteryin Toronto on Sept. 10, 2022.Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty

Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Edward Norton, Jessica Henwick, Janelle Monáe, Daniel Craig, Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman attend Netflix “Glass Onion” world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 10, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario.

Janelle Monáeis still tight with herKnives Out"family.“The actor and singer famously appeared inRian Johnson’s 2022 filmGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, among a cast of other big-name stars likeEdward Norton,Kathryn Hahn,Leslie Odom Jr.,Kate HudsonandDave Bautista, plus returning starDaniel Craigas detective Benoit Blanc.As Monáe, 38, tells PEOPLE in a new interview to promote her partnership withAMC’s FearFest, “We all are close” to this day, nearly two years after the movie’s premiere.“We still have a group text thread called ‘The Green Room,’ " she adds. “And whenever anybody’s doing anything, even when they just shotthe newestKnives Out, we all were like, ‘Congratulations on wrapping, Rian, and Daniel.’ ““We still show each other love,” Monáe says.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Jessica Henwick, Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe inGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery(2022).John Wilson/NetflixTheWelcome to Marwenactor praises the cast’s “incredible bond,” which they formed while filming during the COVID-19 pandemic — something she “hate(s),” but on the flip side, gave them an “opportunity” to connect in a way they might not have gotten to otherwise.“We couldn’t go out, and we had to make sure we didn’t get sick. So we were sort of all in one hotel, and one space a lot,” Monáe recalls. “Andwe would play murder-mystery gameslikeWerewolfandAssassin, which was my favorite.““We were family first .. and when I say family first I would say that Rian, I have to give him a big pat on the back,” she adds. “It started with him and how he made me feel, and made us feel.“Specifically, theGlass Onionwriter-director, 50,wanted the cast"to have a really great human-to-human experience as family,” rather than “needing” something from them.“And that’s going to make the work feel, look and sound better when you’re coming in and you actually like the people,” Monáe says. “And culturally, which feels like we’re caring for each other, not because of how talented we are, but just as humans.“Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe at a photocall forGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysteryin London on Dec. 17, 2022.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImageThe upcoming third film in the anthology trilogy is titledWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mysteryand once again sees Craig, 56, back as Benoit Blanc, though it’s unlikely that any othercast members fromGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysterywill return.Several newcast members were announcedearlier this year, includingKerry Washington,Andrew Scott,Josh O’Connor,Cailee Spaeny,Jeremy Renner,Josh BrolinandMila Kunis.Glenn Closeis also among those joining the cast ofWake Up Dead Man,and she called filming the movie “trulyone of the best experiences of my life"when talking to PEOPLE in August.And while Monáe is not involved in the new film and doesn’t know anything about the plot, she tells PEOPLE she’s “a Rian Johnson fan for life” and “already at the movie theaters ready to watch it.“Of makingGlass Onionduring the pandemic, Monáe also says, “People were nervous, and we got to really be vulnerable and honest with each other about that. And I had the time of my life. That’s one of the highlights of my movie career so far.“Thefull schedulefor AMC’s FearFest, running all the way through Oct. 31, is available atamc.com.

Janelle Monáeis still tight with herKnives Out"family.”

The actor and singer famously appeared inRian Johnson’s 2022 filmGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, among a cast of other big-name stars likeEdward Norton,Kathryn Hahn,Leslie Odom Jr.,Kate HudsonandDave Bautista, plus returning starDaniel Craigas detective Benoit Blanc.

As Monáe, 38, tells PEOPLE in a new interview to promote her partnership withAMC’s FearFest, “We all are close” to this day, nearly two years after the movie’s premiere.

“We still have a group text thread called ‘The Green Room,’ " she adds. “And whenever anybody’s doing anything, even when they just shotthe newestKnives Out, we all were like, ‘Congratulations on wrapping, Rian, and Daniel.’ "

“We still show each other love,” Monáe says.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Jessica Henwick, Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe inGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery(2022).John Wilson/Netflix

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022). (L-R) Jessica Henwick as Peg, Kate Hudson as Birdie, and Janelle Monáe as Andi.

TheWelcome to Marwenactor praises the cast’s “incredible bond,” which they formed while filming during the COVID-19 pandemic — something she “hate(s),” but on the flip side, gave them an “opportunity” to connect in a way they might not have gotten to otherwise.

“We couldn’t go out, and we had to make sure we didn’t get sick. So we were sort of all in one hotel, and one space a lot,” Monáe recalls. “Andwe would play murder-mystery gameslikeWerewolfandAssassin, which was my favorite.”

“We were family first .. and when I say family first I would say that Rian, I have to give him a big pat on the back,” she adds. “It started with him and how he made me feel, and made us feel.”

Specifically, theGlass Onionwriter-director, 50,wanted the cast"to have a really great human-to-human experience as family,” rather than “needing” something from them.

“And that’s going to make the work feel, look and sound better when you’re coming in and you actually like the people,” Monáe says. “And culturally, which feels like we’re caring for each other, not because of how talented we are, but just as humans.”

Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe at a photocall forGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysteryin London on Dec. 17, 2022.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 17: Kate Hudson and Janelle Monáe pull a Christmas Cracker of Daniel Craig’s face at a photocall for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” at King’s Cross St. Pancras Station on December 17, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)

The upcoming third film in the anthology trilogy is titledWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mysteryand once again sees Craig, 56, back as Benoit Blanc, though it’s unlikely that any othercast members fromGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysterywill return.

Several newcast members were announcedearlier this year, includingKerry Washington,Andrew Scott,Josh O’Connor,Cailee Spaeny,Jeremy Renner,Josh BrolinandMila Kunis.

Glenn Closeis also among those joining the cast ofWake Up Dead Man,and she called filming the movie “trulyone of the best experiences of my life"when talking to PEOPLE in August.

And while Monáe is not involved in the new film and doesn’t know anything about the plot, she tells PEOPLE she’s “a Rian Johnson fan for life” and “already at the movie theaters ready to watch it.”

Of makingGlass Onionduring the pandemic, Monáe also says, “People were nervous, and we got to really be vulnerable and honest with each other about that. And I had the time of my life. That’s one of the highlights of my movie career so far.”

Thefull schedulefor AMC’s FearFest, running all the way through Oct. 31, is available atamc.com.

source: people.com