The “Knives Out” future just got a whole lot more intriguing, thanks to director Rian Johnson, who’s leaving the door wide open for more whodunnits after the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
And honestly, fans of the quirky detective Benoit Blanc can breathe a sigh of relief. Johnson isn’t tired of the murder and mystery just yet. In fact, he’s game to keep the franchise going “as long as Daniel Craig wants to keep doing them”, and as long as the stories stay fresh, fun, and a little scary.
Talking to Collider, Johnson explained that he’s not in the business of churning out bland sequels. “As long as Daniel still wants to keep doing it and as long as we have an idea that, to us, feels not just like cranking another one out but feels genuinely exciting and scary, like, ‘Oh, wow, could we pull that off?’, then I’m in,” he said. And that’s exactly the kind of energy you want from a director running a franchise like this.
Since its 2019 debut, the Knives Out universe has exploded in popularity, with Glass Onion in 2022 taking things in a more wild, sun-soaked direction. Now with Wake Up Dead Man on the horizon, Rian Johnson says this new installment is a totally different beast. “It’s like night and day compared to Glass Onion,” he teased. That should keep things spicy for audiences and for Daniel Craig, who returns once again as the eccentric detective Benoit Blanc.
As for the Knives Out future, Johnson’s enthusiasm for the genre is what really sets the tone. He described mysteries as “endlessly malleable,” pointing out that, like sci-fi, they can blend with just about any other genre. That means there’s no shortage of directions the next few movies could take, if they happen. “It’s a totally different genre,” he said. “One of the things I love about the mystery genre is that it holds the whodunit. Like sci-fi, it encompasses so many other types of genres.” Translation: Johnson has plenty of creative wiggle room if he wants to cook up even more mystery-filled chaos.
That said, he did admit he’s ready to switch gears for a bit. After three mystery films in a row, Johnson is itching to write something original and not tied to the Knives Out universe. But don’t mistake that for burnout, he’s still very much in love with the world he’s built. It’s just that even directors need to shake things up sometimes.
Meanwhile, Wake Up Dead Man is already shaping up to be a heavy hitter, boasting a cast that includes Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, Glenn Close, and Andrew Scott. Johnson is keeping plot details under wraps, but the vibe is clear: this case will be Benoit Blanc’s most dangerous yet. That’s not just marketing fluff, it genuinely sounds like Johnson is aiming to push the limits of what a whodunnit can be.
Josh Brolin, who’s joining the franchise as a priest (yes, really), is clearly loving the ride. In an interview with Total Film, he revealed he’d randomly told his wife a year ago that he wanted to play a priest, and boom, here he is. Talk about manifesting. More importantly, Brolin couldn’t stop gushing about the experience. “Rian is probably my new favorite director,” he said. “It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. Incredible cast.” So yeah, it sounds like the vibes on set are as good as the mystery we’re about to unravel on screen.
So what does all this mean for the Knives Out future? Simply put, if Craig’s in, Johnson’s in. And as long as they keep reinventing the formula with each film, there’s no reason to think the franchise can’t keep surprising us. With its perfect mix of clever storytelling, campy flair, and social satire, Knives Out still feels fresh, especially with someone like Johnson at the helm who actually gives a damn about making each one count.
In a movie world full of tired reboots and limp sequels, it’s refreshing to see a creator say, “Only if it’s worth it.” That mindset might just be the secret to keeping Knives Out exciting long into the future. So buckle up for Wake Up Dead Man, because if it lands the way Johnson hopes, it won’t be the last time we see Benoit Blanc pick apart another twisted case.
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