Because Hugh Grant’s cameo is so brief, we don’t get to learn that much about him or his life with Benoit Blanc. That does not mean that Rian Johnson doesn’t have a full picture of who that character is. Speaking on The Empire Spoiler Special Podcast, Johnson delved a little deeper into who that character is — including his name — and what their relationship is like:
“They’re a couple. His name is Phillip. I just basically thought who would it give me the most joy for Benoit Blanc to be with, and I thought Hugh Grant. He was such a joy to be with, he came to set for one day, did that one disconnected scene and trusted us to put it in the movie. I also love that he’s home baking, trying to make sourdough bread. I don’t know if I see him as the Watson to Blanc’s Sherlock, but it’s good to have separate things, plus that apartment is so nice, I can’t imagine Blanc can afford it so I think he has a real job.”
Though I of course hope to see the return of Phillip in the third film, I support that he won’t be Blanc’s sidekick. I just want the best for those two, and separating the personal and the professional is always good for a relationship. Plus, Blanc has a knack for picking up a Watson figure on the case, be it Ana de Armas’ Marta in “Knives Out” and Janelle Monáe’s Helen in “Glass Onion.” Benoit and Phillip’s life seems incredibly healthy, and I want to keep it that way. I also don’t want Hugh Grant to be in harm’s way, which could happen in a murder mystery. Nobody would want that. Especially Benoit.