‘Knives Out’ Director Rian Johnson Is Not Done With His Film Franchise

Don’t get used to referring to writer-director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out movies as a trilogy. When the first film, the titular Knives Out, premiered in 2019, it became a pop culture moment and an Oscar-nominated box-office hit. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery followed in 2022, and now Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is here.

Once again, Daniel Craig leads an ensemble cast as master detective Benoit Blanc, and this probably won’t be his last time in the role, which will be a relief to fans.

“I’m writing my next film. It’s not one of these. It’s something original. It’s not because I’m burned out on these. In fact, I’m energized after making this one, and I really hope to come back,” Johnson enthuses, admitting he’s already thinking about ideas. “Daniel and I are spitballing about what the next one could be down the line. I hope we can.”

Would the in-demand filmmaker ever vacate the director’s chair and let someone else take the helm?

“Absolutely not. It’s mine,” he states, chatting with a select number of journalists. “They’ll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands. Similarly, if Daniel stops having fun or decides he doesn’t want to do it anymore, then, as far as I’m concerned, the series is over. This whole thing is us making these movies together. That’s the joy of it. People can make other mysteries all they want, but this is something that’s for him and me.”

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery sees Blanc brought into the orbit of Josh Brolin’s Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, a charismatic priest, and his number two, Reverend Jud Duplenticy, played by Josh O’Connor. When Wicks drops dead, Blanc must unravel a complex web of secrets and lies to get to the truth. The stellar cast also includes Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery lands in theaters for a limited run ahead of Thanksgiving before streaming on Netflix from Friday, December 12, 2025.

The ‘Knives Out’ Films Bring Their Ensemble Casts Together Like A Family

O’Connor is best known for films such as Challengers and God’s Own Country, as well as his performances in The Crown and Peaky Blinders. He’s also making waves this year as the star of heist drama The Mastermind. Even before he spoke to Johnson about Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the actor was already a fan of the first two films and wanted a piece of the action.

“You hear murmurs from friends and people who have been involved in the films about this collaborative company of actors who stick together. It’s not like regular films,” he muses. “Rian and the team create this environment that is, honestly, extraordinary. When I was at drama school in England, the second year was my favorite because you take a show, build a set, put it in a van, travel around England, put up the set, perform, then go to the next place. There were 14 of us, and we were like a traveling circus. In terms of the experience of making film, I have subconsciously been chasing that in some ways, and this is the closest thing to that I’ve ever had.”

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery was filmed in England during what O’Connor describes as the height of summer, and recalls the cast bonding so well that they didn’t want to go their separate ways when Johnson said, “Cut.”

“No one was going back to their trailer, even though it’s the most extraordinary trailer I’ve ever seen, so I was tempted, but we would just stick together,” he shares. “I don’t know Rian’s casting process, but there must be an element of finding people who are open to that, or want that, in some ways. Daniel is a great leader, all for that kind of company feeling, and very humble and gracious about it. The first week or so was just Mila, Daniel, and me, and we would crack up all the time. It was a nightmare trying to get through scenes without laughing.”

Rian Johnson Says ‘Knives Out’ Makes Him The Luckiest Guy In The World

Even after delivering three Knives Out films, Johnson, also known for Looper, Brick, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and the acclaimed TV show Poker Face, can’t believe the caliber of talent the mysteries attract.

“At some point, we were like, ‘How do we keep getting lucky?’” he shrugs. “I think to some extent, there’s an element of a self-selecting process with it, because the truth is, we’re doing something unique with these. We’re going after movie stars who are usually number one on the call sheet for any other movie and who all carry their own films, to play in a true ensemble. Anybody who’s saying yes to that doesn’t need to. The only reason for them to say yes is that it genuinely appeals to them.”

Even after decades in the industry, Johnson still considers his work to be a “learning process.” However, he learns to continually raise his game because of the artists, crew, craftspeople, and actors.

“I love actors. That’s the best part of it,” the filmmaker explains. “I was getting to show up every day and watch Josh and Daniel, and there was a lot of banter in between takes. These guys are very different, but they’re quite similar. They have both done theatre, they’re both trained, they are both British actors, and so there’s something that clicked about the way that they worked.”

The Knives Out maestro concludes, “It was the same with Glenn Close. Getting to watch not just her work in the scenes, but getting to watch how she would show up to set every single day with the energy of somebody who had just gotten their first job in the film business. She would be giddy every day about the decisions she got to make and the little things we came up with on set. We were inspired by that every day. I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I get to show up and work with casts like these, and that’s my job.”