Guillermo del Toro is one of our greatest living film directors. I don’t think that’s a particularly hot take. However, just because he’s great doesn’t mean that he is perfect or cannot take criticism. In fact, it turns out he knows just who to call to help make his movies ever better: all the other greatest living directors.

Speaking with Variety, del Toro was asked how he handled the final cut of his films, or if making some of the film's edits was difficult for him. Oftentimes, editing decisions come from the response of test audiences, but the Frankenstein director revealed that he doesn’t test his movies. Instead, he shows his films to his friends. As he put it:

One might think that you’d only hear what you want if you show your movie to your friends. However, in this case, Guillermo del Toro’s “friends” are other great directors. Del Toro's friendship with James Cameron is well known, and there has been discussion of the "Secret Film Club" before, though it's apparently bigger than we thought. It also turns out that a particular part of Frankenstein is missing on the word of the Avatar filmmaker. Del Toro explained…

I already wanted to be Guillermo del Toro’s friend, but now that desire has exploded because sitting in a room full of some of the greatest filmmakers ever and hearing them debate the finer points of their own films sounds like absolute heaven. The fact that these men are allowed to be brutal with each other’s work, but can be professional about it isn’t easy, but it must lead to incredible conversations about filmmaking.

Apparently all James Cameron had to say was that a few minutes of the Frankenstein story didn’t work or weren’t necessary, and the seven minutes of film, which was still beautiful, were gone. While I certainly want to know more about these seven minutes, I also can't argue that Frankenstein ever felt like anything was missing.

Guillermo del Toro says he doesn’t second-guess his friends. When they tell him to do something with a movie, he does it. He figures if he’s going to ask the question, he needs to listen to the answer. The director said…

Considering that all of these directors combined have made far more great movies than poor ones, and there are plenty of Oscars between them to prove it, it seems this process of working together to improve their work really accomplishes its goals.

There are major movie franchises, and then there's the Star Wars movies. Generations were brought up on the galaxy far far away, which has continued expanding in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Lucasfilm is going through some big changes, as Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as President. And The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson recently explained why that leadership pivot is "exciting" for him as a fan.

Fans are always looking forward to upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, and the franchise is in a unique place currently. It's been missing from theaters since The Rise of Skywalker's ending, but there are some exciting projects in development. In an interview with Variety at Sundance, Johnson spoke about Kennedy's departure, and the possibilities that might open up. In his words:

Some points were made. While Johnson doesn't have anything negative to say about his experience working with Kennedy on his subversive masterpiece The Last Jedi, as a fan he seems excited about what possibilities new leadership might bring for the epic space opera. After all, she served as president for a whopping 14 years.

Johnson's work in The Last Jedi was originally the subject of some backlash, thanks to bold narrative swings like making Rey no one and the handling of Luke's character. While Kennedy claimed this scared him off from the franchise, the Knives Out director painted another picture in the same interview at Sundance. In his words:

After The Last Jedi was released, reports came out that Rian Johnson was planning his on Star Wars trilogy. Unfortunately these projects haven't really moved forward, with him instead focusing on the Knives Out movies and the series Poker Face (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription). But it sounds like he'd still like to return to the franchise at some point. Fingers crossed it happens with the new president of Lucasfilm.

While we wait for news about Rian Johnson's future, there are some plans for Star Wars to return to the big screen. The first title that will do this is The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. It'll be followed by Shawn Levy's Starfighter, which will follow suit in May of the next year.

This has been a big week for the Star Wars franchise, to say the least. Days ago, Kathleen Kennedy announced she would step down as president of Lucasfilm and hand the reins over to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. As a new chapter for the production company begins, Kennedy is speaking about her experiences. With that, she made some comments about Rian Johnson’s stint working within the galaxy far, far away, and he's has since responded.

Kathleen Kennedy Makes Claims About Why Rian Johnson Only Made One Star Wars Movie

Let’s start with Kennedy’s comments. The producer, who became president of Lucasfilm since 2012 after George Lucas sold the company to Walt Disney Studios, recently reflected on her time in the position. She discussed the highs and lows of the job while speaking with Deadline. When specifically asked about the films Rian Johnson was reportedly set to helm following 2017's The Last Jedi, Kennedy said the following:

Kennedy responded by suggesting that one reason Johnson didn't return to helm his other films was due to him being "spooked" by the negative reactions that The Last Jedi received by people online. Upon its release, the film (which made $1.3 million at the worldwide box office, as noted by Deadline) received positive reviews from critics, though there were fans who were dissatisfied with it for a myriad of reasons. Even today, there are those who continue to express their grievances.

That's not the only reason Kennedy attributes to Johnson not directing further SW films either. She also points out that another factor was the writer/director's desire to focus his energy towards the Knives Out movies starting in 2018.

How Rian Johnson Responded To Kennedy’s Comments

Rian Johnson eventually caught wind of Kathleen Kennedy’s comments. With that, he took to X, where he reposted an article covering Kennedy's quotes and shared his take. In his words (which have had punctuation added to them):

Well, there you have it, two conflicting sets thoughts here on why there’s only Rian Johnson-helmed Star Wars movie thus far. Although Johnson's response is brief, it seems he doesn't agree with the notion that it was negative fan energy that turned him away from the massive IP. The question still remains, though: would Johnson direct another one of those films?

In the summer of 2025, Johnson was asked about whether he’d return to Star Wars. He admitted that he’d kicked around ideas with Kathleen Kennedy after The Last Jedi but that he'd ultimately been “busy making murder mysteries” since his 2017 sci-fi film. Still, Johnson also shared that he “would be thrilled” to do something else Star Wars “down the line” should the opportunity present itself, but he’s currently rather happy doing his “own stuff.”

Fear not, though, fans, as there are upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows are on the way. The Mandalorian & Grogu will mark the franchise's first big-screen release since 2019’s Rise Of Skywalker. Also, the Ryan Gosling-led film Star Wars: Starfighter is set to be released in the summer of 2027. It goes without saying that this is a busy time for Lucasfilm and, with projects in the works and a new leadership team in place, only time will tell if Rian Johnson ends up returning to the fold!

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is the latest from Rian Johnson, and one of many 2025 Netflix movies readers should make time for. The feature came out not long after the sequel to the original movie, Glass Onion, which I admittedly thought was odd, but it all makes a lot more sense after hearing why the director made that decision.

Except for a handful of episodes of the now-canceled Peacock series Poker Face, Johnson has been exclusively working on the Knives Out franchise since 2019. This has led to three movies in a much shorter time than most franchises, though the director told EW he had a good reason for rushing to do the third after the first sequel:

I can understand that, especially after hearing some people say the Thailand location for Season 3 of The White Lotus wasn't quite as posh as previous resorts. Fortunately, the favorable reviews on Wake Up Dead Man, both from CinemaBlend and critics at large, prove that bigger doesn't always mean better.

Instead of a movie centered on a billionaire and their grand estate, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery centers on two priests, a congregation, and the Catholic faith. Rian Johnson talked about what drew him to that idea specifically, and how it connected to his own life:

As for other changes Wake Up Dead Man made, we've noted that the movie waits a while before introducing Benoit Blanc into the story. In doing so, it basically makes Josh O'Connor's Father Jud the main character for most of the story and allows the adventure itself to breathe.

I've heard some fans complain that the movie was a little less campy than usual and that the killer reveal was a little too obvious. Personally, I didn't see that as a problem and would say this was by far the best movie he's done. The bar may not have been raised in terms of spectacle, but I would say I'll have higher expectations for the fourth movie.

As for how this could influence Rian Johnson and the next idea he has for the Knives Out franchise, that's up in the air. The director said he only had a vague idea for what to do with the fourth movie for now, noting that he doesn't like to get too specific with the story until he actually prepares to write it. So it can better reflect more current times.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is available to stream with a Netflix subscription right now. Those who haven't had a chance to watch yet should do so immediately and get ready for a new year packed with more quality movies from the streamer.

It’s an often-repeated axiom that filmmaking is a collaborative art form. It’s certainly true. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of people whose creative work goes into making the movies that we watch on the big screen or at home. That said, some of the people in the collaboration tend to get noticed more than others. We always see the actors, and we might often notice the work of the costume designer. We frequently notice the work of the editor, especially if it’s particularly good (or not). But other talents are no less important even if we frequently don’t notice.

There are some skills where it’s said that, when they’re done right, you don’t notice them at all. I might have tended to agree with that idea in the broad sense, but when I recently sat down to watch Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery with my Netflix subscription, I noticed one particular element of filmmaking in a way I’m not sure I ever had before.

Benoit Blanc’s Introduction In Wake Up Dead Man Is A Work Of Art

Technically speaking, Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc is the first character we see in the movie, reading the report on the events of the story that takes up the first act of Wake Up Dead Man. However, his character isn’t properly introduced until much later, when he wanders into the church at the heart of the mystery as Josh O’Connor’s Father Jud is considering his situation.

The light is pouring into the church until Father Jud asks Blanc how the church makes him feel, at which point it’s as if the sun goes behind a cloud because the lighting temperature of the entire shot shifts into a dim gloom. Blanc, who clearly has some issues with religion, goes on a bit of a tirade about all the problems he has with it. The color of the scene remains in place until Father Jud responds, and the light returns. Check out the end of the scene here.

Is it subtle? Not even a bit. That’s clearly the point. Rian Johnson wanted people to see this, and when you do, the understanding is clear. I love the scene, but not only for its own sake, but for the way it made me think about all the other filmmaking details that we don’t otherwise think about.

Wake Up Dead Man Draws Attention To Something You Don’t Always Notice, But That Is Always Important

Lighting choices are one of those things in filmmaking that most people probably file under the “If you didn’t notice it, it did its job right” category, but the fact is that even if you don’t always register lighting choices in the cinematography, you always notice them.

Wake Up Dead Man cinematographer Steve Yedlin spoke to CinemaBlend and discussed the lighting, specifically, the creative use of which goes far beyond this scene. Lighting is a conscious choice on the part of a filmmaker at every moment. Whether it’s deciding what artificial lighting to use or what time of day to shoot in order to get as much of a certain type of natural light as possible, it’s always a choice. And that choice is always made for a reason.

Lighting is particularly important in Wake Up Dead Man, so it's handled in a way that makes you see it. That said, I'm going to use the fact that I've been woken up on this particular area of filmmaking to consider the lighting more in every movie I watch.

Every movie in the Star Wars canon instigates some debate, but I think it’s fair to say that there is no more controversial title than Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. There are many (admittedly including myself) who love the way in which it manages to subvert expectations and explore new directions for the franchise, but there are others who hate it for those exact same qualities. There is definitely a “pick a side” vibe that has developed among fans, and rising star Josh O’Connor most definitely has: he not only adores The Last Jedi, but he admits that seeing it for the first time moved him to tears.

O’Connor recently had the chance to work with Johnson on the newly released Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (which is now available to stream with a Netflix subscription), and he offered great praise directly to the filmmaker for his contribution to the Star Wars universe while participating in a game of “Guess Your Movie” with Letterboxd. During a discussion of the blockbuster film, the actor specifically highlighted his love for the final scene, which is what specifically brought him to tears. Turning to Johnson, O’Connor said,

For those who don’t specifically recall, Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s final scene centers on a poor farm boy on the planet Canto Bight, who uses the Force to pick up a broom while doing chores. The final shot has him looking up into the stars with the sweeping instrument in hand – reminiscent of a Jedi holding a lightsaber – and it opens the idea that the ability to manipulate the energy that binds the universe together doesn’t just belong to a specific few (which pairs perfectly with the revelation that Rey’s parents were “nobodys”).

As recognized by Josh O’Connor, it’s a big, powerful moment in the Star Wars canon… but it has itself been rendered somewhat controversial in the years since because of further developments in the franchise. The divisive response to The Last Jedi led LucasFilm and Disney to pivot away from the bold choices made by Rian Johnson, and more traditional choices were made by J.J. Abrams & Co. in the making of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. In addition to Rey being made into a Palpatine descendant, the idea of the Force being democratized was abandoned, and there has been no follow up with the kid whom fans have dubbed Broom Boy.

I don’t know if there will ever be peace in the fan community regarding The Last Jedi, but I will say this: if Josh O’Connor is the kind of person who cried while watching that movie, he’s clearly a passionate Star Wars fan, and after seeing all of his excellent work in recent years, I don’t think anyone would be upset to see him become a part of an upcoming Star Wars movie or TV show.

Rian Johnson's Knives Out franchise has been wildly successful so far, and the threequel Wake Up Dead Man recently arrived on streaming for those with a Netflix subscription. CinemaBlend's Wake Up Dead Man review praised it as the strongest in the series, including its many twists and turns. The filmmaker recently explained how he decides who the killer is, and also offers some criticism of Agatha Christie's books.

While not a book to screen adaptation, Agatha Christie's influence is definitely felt throughout all three Knives Out movies. During an interview with EW, he was asked how early into the writing process each movie's killer is decided upon. The Looper director responded with:

How interesting is that? While the Knives Out movies keep fans on their toes thanks to the whodunnit mystery, even hearing the filmmaker's process is fascinating. Although Johnson can't write the Knives Out movies in advance, there does seem to be a specific way each new movie is crafted... including deciding which character is the killer.

Rather than simply trying to create an interesting puzzle for moviegoers, Johnson seems determined that the killer of each movie is character-driven. As he went on:

The director/wrier is no stranger to twists, as well as anticipating audience reaction. This is why The Last Jedi was such a subversive masterpiece; he has an understanding of what folks expect. But rather than making a twist just for the sake of it, he's ensuring the killer in each Knives Out movie makes narrative sense.

In the same interview, Rian Johnson actually took aim at the legendary Agatha Christie. He recalled how easy it can be to predict the bad guy in those legendary whodunnit novels, as he put it:

Clearly Rian Johnson is a fan of the genre, both on the page and the screen. That's why he's been able to predict the killers of Christie's books; they're consistent in the way they're surprising. He's trying to avoid that trap in the Knives Out films, including Wake Up Dead Man.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is streaming now on Netflix as part of the 2025 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see what Johnson has up his sleeve if/when a fourth movie is produced.

This coming weekend is going to be a big one in theaters. The third Avatar film is set to arrive, and considering how popular both the previous films we can expect theaters will be flooded with viewers, many of them wearing 3D glasses for the first time in years.

However, for me, the release of a highly anticipated third movie in a series happened this past weekend, and on a much smaller screen. I finally got to sit down and watch Wake Up Dead Man, Rian Johnson's third Benoit Blanc mystery, though not in the way I had originally planned. However, I did find at least one way that watching a Knives Out movie was actually better at home than in theaters.

I’m A Big Proponent Of The Theatrical Experience

The first Knives Out movie was a monster hit when it was released in theaters, which made it feel a little strange when Netflix snagged the rights to distribute the two planned sequels. However, both Glass Onion and the brand new Wake Up Dead Man did get (limited) theatrical releases.

As somebody who is still a big fan of the theatrical experience, I made a point to go see Glass Onion in theaters when it came out a few years ago. I wanted to have that same experience that I remembered so well from watching Knives Out, and it was great.

I had fully intended to do the same thing with Wake Up Dead Man. Unfortunately, sometimes life gets in the way, and I simply wasn’t able to find the time to go see the new movie before it arrived on Netflix this past Friday. While I still could see Wake Up Dead Man in theaters as of this writing, it didn’t really make sense when I could watch it at home, so I used my Netflix subscription and sat down to enjoy it.

Watching Wake Up Dead Man On Netflix Allowed Me To Engage With It In A Different Way

When sitting down to watch Wake Up Dead Man, my main concern was about my movie being interrupted. My kids were asleep down the hall, and they don't always like going to bed. Potential distractions from a movie I really want to see are a main reason I frequently won't start watching a movie at home.

Luckily, they weren’t a problem, but I still stopped the movie a couple of times very intentionally. I needed to pause it because my wife and I were clearly having thoughts about the mystery at the center of Wake Up Dead Man and wanted to talk them out.

I thought maybe the story was going to go one way, only to have that theory specifically brought up in the film, only to be disproven. My wife thought she knew “whodunit” and was pretty close, though with some significant missing details.

I didn’t stop the movie much, and those few instances were only for a minute or so each time, but it was absolutely fun to have these conversations in a way I absolutely wouldn’t have had I been sitting next to my wife in a theater. It enhanced this particular viewing experience.

To be clear, I have not become a convert to the Church of Netflix, which seems to believe that nobody actually wants to go to theaters anymore. I think theaters are great, and I still would have liked to have seen this movie there, but I was afraid that by not watching Wake Up Dead Man in a theater, I would have a lesser experience. I don't think it was better or worse. It was valuable in a different way.

When it comes to upcoming Star Wars movies and shows, the horizon is certainly more bare than one might have expected a decade ago, when The Force Horizons first hit theaters, or even six years ago when Disney+’s franchise TV shows debuted. The only projects with footage filmed are Jon Favreau’s Mandalorian & Grogu and Shawn Levy’s standalone Star Wars: Starfighter, with others in various stages of development, and I’m bummed that Rian Johnson isn’t directing any of them.

Johnson is, of course, the filmmaker who helmed 2017’s polarizing The Last Jedi, and one who previously voiced plans to craft a whole trilogy, even if later updates watered down those initial reports. Currently promoting his latest Knives Out mystery with Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, the series-best Wake Up Dead Man, the director talked with Polygon about how he thinks telling a purposefully simplistic story is a cardinal Star Wars sin, and that his new film intentionally follows Last Jedi in challenging religious and ideological norms. As he put it:

One of the most acclaimed and celebrated Star Wars projects of any era is Rogue One, which managed to give fans something extremely familiar while also telling a completely new story. And one that then spawned the further-prequelized and even more beloved series Andor, which also struck out to tell a story that avoided feeding into the Skywalker Saga just for the sake of it.

While he's not directly taking a swipe at the third feature of the latter-day trilogy, J.J. Abrams' The Rise of Skywalker, the points made can certainly be applied. That movie essentially pretended as if The Last Jedi's story-expansions and unique ideas were suggestions rather than canon, resulting in some low-hanging plot fruit that felt far too beholden to everything that came before.

Johnson continued, pointing to the franchise's history of bucking expectations and sparking debates:

The Force Awakens sparked a wave of fan hate for killing off Harrison Ford's Han Solo, and it was somewhat reminiscent (in a far less vitriolic sense) of the backlash that followed The Empire Strikes Back's cliffhanger conclusion that saw Han being trapped in carbonite and sent to Jabba the Hutt. All these years later, though, that kind of ending can be appreciated as a genius narrative move that went against the grain. Han's death in Episode VII felt more like Ford backing out of the role than a decision meant to challenge viewers.

The Mandalorian initially seemed like it was there to buck trends and subvert expectations, but it quickly gave up its standalone value to become enmeshed with bigger-picture Star Wars storytelling, bringing in an aged-down Luke Skywalker, an age-appropriate Boba Fett, and more recognition-guaranteed characters. Favreau's big-screen adventure will likely go even harder on those connections, for better or worse, which means Starfighter is the best shot we have at seeing something totally new from this gargantuan universe. (On the big screen, I mean, since Star Wars Visions consistently brings the unexpected goods.)

I know I'm not the only fan out here hoping for Rian Johnson to dip his toes back into The Force for another crack at it, although I'd possibly be even more enthused for him to lend his talents to a new Muppets movie, which he is 100% down for. Can we go ahead and just count Yoda as a Muppet now? And can we get Frank Oz to have a conversation with himself as both Yoda and Fozzie?

Major spoilers for Wake Up Dead Man are ahead! Read with caution, and watch the latest Knives Out mystery with a Netflix subscription.

I get it, connecting the Knives Out movies to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's movies feels random and potentially illogical. However, now that we’re three mysteries deep with Benoit Blanc thanks to the release of Wake Up Dead Man on the 2025 movie schedule, a pattern has been created that makes this connection undeniable. So, without further ado, let's talk about the fan theory involving Rian Johnson’s beloved whodunnits and how the MCU plays into their outcomes.

Why Is There A Fan Theory That Mixes Knives Out With Marvel?

Alright, this all starts with the Knives Out cast, including Chris Evans. When that movie came out in 2019, he was the only actor in the ensemble connected to the MCU, and his character, Ransom, killed Christopher Plummer’s Harlan.

Now, cut to 2022. Glass Onion was released, and it featured notable Marvel movie stars Edward Norton, who was in The Incredible Hulk before Mark Ruffalo took over as Bruce Banner, and Dave Bautista, AKA Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy. Notably, the cast also included Kathryn Hahn, who was in WandaVision and Agatha All Along, and Jessica Henwick, who appeared in The Defenders, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. However, those are shows, and this pattern only pertains to actors who starred in MCU movies.

In Glass Onion, Edward Norton’s Miles ended up killing both Bautista’s Duke Cody and Janelle Monáe’s Andi.

So, this all created the theory – which An0nym355 summarized on Reddit – that if a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie actor is in a Knives Out mystery, they will be either the killer or a victim and never an innocent survivor or bystander. An important distinction to make here is that not every victim is an MCU star. Rather, every time a MCU performer has been in one of Rian Johnson’s films, they have either done the killing or been killed. Now, with the release of Wake Up Dead Man, there’s even more merit to this connection.

How Wake Up Dead Man Perfectly Plays Into This Theory

When Josh Brolin and Jeremy Renner were cast in Wake Up Dead Man, I was immediately thinking about this theory. However, I didn’t realize at the time that Glenn Close and Thomas Haden Church were also MCU movie alums.

That’s right, along with Brolin playing the big bad Thanos and Renner portraying Hawkeye for years, Glenn Close played Nova Prime in Guardians of the Galaxy, and Thomas Haden Church was Sandman in both Spider-Man 3 and the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.

I will note that they aren't the only actors in Wake Up Dead Man with Marvel connections; however, they are the only four MCU movie stars. Kerry Washington was in 2005’s Fantastic Four and 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of Silver Surfer. Also, Jeffrey Wright voices a character in the series What If…? Neither of their characters was involved in the crimes of Wake Up Dead Man. However, neither of them is an MCU movie actor, either. Washington’s Marvel movies aren’t technically in the MCU – even though Chris Evans’ Human Torch does appear in Deadpool and Wolverine. Meanwhile, Wright has only ever appeared in Marvel TV shows.

With all that being said, I thought this third Knives Out mystery would deviate from the potential pattern due to all these muddy Marvel waters. However, it did not at all; in fact, it made the theory even stronger.

In the whodunnit, the four actors with ties to MCU movies were involved in the crime. Both Josh Brolin’s Monsignor Wicks and Thomas Haden Chruch’s Samson Holt died. And the people responsible for those deaths wound up being Glenn Close’s Martha Delacroix and Jeremy Renner’s Dr. Nat Sharp.

So, in the most brilliant of ways, the well-reviewed Wake Up Dead Man played right into this fan-favorite Marvel theory while also making it more complicated and twisty. Therefore, if we ever get another Knives Out mystery, make sure you pay close attention to the cast and their connections to the MCU.

Benoit Blanc has another mystery to contend with, and it all plays out in Wake Up Dead Man, the latest installment in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series. The highly anticipated 2025 Netflix release is garnering buzz amongst fans and film pundits alike. As a result, a number of people have taken to social media to weigh in on the flick. What I didn’t expect was for someone to post about noticing a funny technical flub that the streamer made with the film. Nevertheless, I love that Rian Johnson responded with a truly excellent take.

One of the most important duties that the folks at Netflix have when it comes to content is making sure that films are captioned correctly. Based on my personal experiences, the finished result for a given movie or TV show is usually on point. However, one user took to X after they realized that one of Benoit Blanc’s lines wasn’t correctly captioned for the subtitles. Because of that, there’s alternate wording that hilariously changes up the point of what Blanc was saying. Per the caption, Blanc says, “Telling the truth can be a belly rub.”

Yes, you read that sentence correctly, and I’m still chuckling right now. Rian Johnson is a witty screenwriter, to say the least, and his 2025 movie schedule entry does have some wild lines of dialogue. However, even he didn’t pen that “belly rub” point. When he spotted the flub, though, he shared thoughts that speak to his truly jovial personality:

If I were in the Looper director’s shoes, I’d probably also be tempted not to tell Netflix about the error just out of pure delight. Something I really appreciate about Rian Johnson is his sense of humor, and it tickles me to no end that he also finds this subtitle error funny. On top of that, what also makes me laugh is the sheer idea of Daniel Craig reciting that faux line with Benoit Blanc’s southern drawl.

This technical error is far from the only tidbit about Wake Up Dead Man that fans are discussing online, though. Many also seem to be discussing the movie’s biggest twists as well as the performances of the cast. Another keen topic seems to be the chemistry between Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor, who plays new character Rev. Jud Duplenticy.

In this third Blanc-led mystery film, the world-famous detective is tapped to investigate the murder of a polarizing clergyman (Josh Brolin), whose death has been pinned on Duplenticy. This latest Knives Out offshoot, of course, includes a cast filled with A+ talent like Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington and Glenn Close. Critics have praised Wake Up, citing Johnson’s writing and directing as well as the work of his ensemble cast.

At this point, I’m already eager for another Benoit Blanc film, and Rian Johnson confirmed this third movie won’t end the series. It, of course, remains to be seen just when that film might actually materialize. What I’ll take comfort in now, though, is the stream of responses to the threequel on social media. I’m not sure if anyone is going to be able to top that “belly rub” discovery for me but, if they do, I hope Johnson shares his two cents.

Grab a Netflix subscription and stream Wake Up Dead Man now. With that same membership, fans can also stream the movie’s predecessor, Glass Onion.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery has finally premiered on the 2025 movie schedule and is now available with a Netflix subscription, and with it, fans of the murder mystery genre have a new adventure to go on with Benoit Blanc. Rian Johnson is clearly loving making these movies, as he’s made three in a row, and talks of a fourth have already begun. Having said that, if you have an idea for a Knives Out Mystery, don’t bother pitching it to him.

Appearing on the Awards Radar podcast, Rian Johnson confirms that, yes, people offer him ideas for future mysteries all the time, but he’ll never take one. It’s not that he thinks every idea is terrible, but he’s not going to write any idea for a film that isn’t his own. He would still love to see these good ideas become movies, however, so he has a suggestion for everybody who pitches him. He said...

As answers go, it’s not a bad one. If Rian Johnson is only ever going to do a Benoit Blanc mystery that is his idea, if anybody else has a great idea for a murder mystery, they should write it themselves. They’ll probably need to change their detective character enough to be sure he’s legally distinct from the one Daniel Craig plays, though.

Honestly, there are so many great murder mystery films, and so many different ways to do them, that it would be an easy genre to simply create a new story in. While Rian Johnson's movies often twist murder mystery tropes, his films also use those time-honored traditions. So, if somebody had an idea that started as a Knives Out concept, transforming it into something new would be fairly easy.

Rian Johnson has addressed at least one other idea for a Knives Out movie that wasn’t his. The popular suggestion that Daniel Craig should star in a movie among a cast of Muppets has been popular for years. While Johnson admitted the idea had merit, he suggested it would be difficult to make work, as it would require some Muppets to be murdered and others to be murderers, which is a fair point. Fans will need to make due with the recent Sesame Street parody to get their Muppet/Knives Out fix.

Rian Johnson has indicated that discussions of a fourth Knives Out film in the series have begun, though there is no “development” happening on the idea yet. It certainly sounds like Johnson is up for making another movie in this series. It will all come down to whether or not he gets excited enough by an idea he has, because your great idea won’t make the next movie happen. If you want to see your great idea on screen, you’ll have to do it yourself.

In the loveliest of ways, one of the Knives Out fans’ most delightful dreams came true as Benoit Blanc got turned into a Muppet named Beignet Blanc to investigate a case on Sesame Street. Now, in the lead-up to Wake Up Dead Man’s release on the 2025 movie schedule, the man behind the iconic sleuth, Daniel Craig, has reacted to this parody of his detective, and it’s delightful.

Now, while Rian Johnson said a Muppets and Knives Out movie will probably not happen, we did get a crossover of sorts. While it’s not a full-blown film like fans have been asking for, it was a delightful mystery that saw a muppet version of Benoit Blanc visit Sesame Street to figure out who ate Cookie Monster’s pie. Then, they had Daniel Craig react to it, making this all very full circle. Take a look:

First of all, I don’t think Daniel Craig would ever be recast as Benoit Blanc. However, Beignet Blanc certainly is a star in his own right, and I’d love to see the two interact. Honestly, all of this is simply wonderful. The “Forks Out” mystery is a hilarious take on Knives Out, and it gives the fans a version of what they’ve been asking for.

Then, to make matters even better, they actually got Daniel Craig to react to it, and his comments were A+. I personally love the joke he made about Josh O’Connor, who plays Father Jud Duplenticy and has been cited by critics as a highlight of Wake Up Dead Man. And while most of the James Bond actor’s comments were funny, he also seemed genuinely awestruck over this little video, as he said:

Well, that’s so sweet, and folks in the comments loved all of Craig’s reactions too. Even his Wake Up Dead Man co-star, Kerry Washington, got in on the fun, writing:

Of course, other fans thought this was “everything” too, as they posted things like:

• Daniel’s reaction is EVERYTHING!! 😍😍 -the_muttleys
• Get Daniel on Sesame St now!❤️ -jeannieoutofthe_bottle
• I’d love ❤️ to see Daniel on Sesame Street now lol 😂👏 -ebarmby
• This is all I wanted after watching the sketch yesterday 😍😭😂 -sassytinaaa
• THIS IS WHY I PAY MY INTERNET AND NETFLIX BILLS. -thetanyahayles

Between Wake Up Dead Man’s positive reviews, getting to see it in theaters and this crossover of my dreams, all this Knives Out fun has made my week. It seems like it’s also made Daniel Craig’s as well, which I love to see.

Now, if you are looking to see Beignet Blanc and the “Forks Out” mystery in full, you can watch the video on YouTube.

Then, to see Daniel Craig in action, once again, as the smooth-talking crime solver, Benoit Blanc, you can watch Wake Up Dead Man right now. It will be playing in select theaters until December 11, and then, on December 12, you’ll be able to stream the latest Knives Out mystery with a Netflix subscription.

After that, who knows, maybe someday we’ll get to see Beignet and Benoit solve a mystery together. It seems like it’d make Daniel Craig very happy, and I know the fans would just adore it.

Rian Johnson's Knives Out franchise is a delightful whodunit series, which occupies both theater sand the small screen for those with a Netflix subscription. The property is an anthology series, with a new cast of characters used every chapter, although they all feature Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc. And the filmmaker recently spoke to CinemaBlend about why so little of the detective's backstory is brought to the films.

Aside from Joseph Gordon-Levitt's voice cameos, Craig's Blanc has been the only consistent part of the Knives Out series. While Glass Onion revealed his relationship with Hugh Grant's Phillip, the movies don't really focus on Benoit's personal life. As you can see above, Johnson spoke to CinemaBlend ahead of Wake Up Dead Man's release in theaters. And when asked about the backstory and if that fictional couple was still together, he shared:

Points were made. While fans might be curious to know more about Blanc, that's ultimately not what the Knives Out movies are about. Instead, his backstory is only revealed when it's relevant to his investigations... usually while connecting with the leading characters who need his help.

For Wake Up Dead Man, he doesn't share all that much, but Blanc's comments about religion seem to hint at some pain related to faith. And since he's a gay man, I have to assume that's part of this story. Later in the same interview, Johnson spoke more about what motivates Daniel Craig's character to share, saying:

This offers a peek behind the curtain on Rian Johnson's creative process for the mystery franchise. While the filmmaker revealed that he can't write Knives Out in advance due to their connection with current events, he's also only peeling back Benoit Blanc's layers when the story (and new protagonists) call for it.

In the same interview, Johnson affirmed that we shouldn't expect the detective's backstory to be fully explored in future installments. As he put it:

Clearly he's got a method to his madness, so why mess with that now? Wake Up Dead Man is the third installment of the successful series, and Rian Johnson isn't planning on ending things with a trilogy. CinemaBlend's Knives Out 3 review praised the new movie, while also highlighting how unique (and less fun) it is compared to the previous two installments.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is in theaters now as part of the 2025 movie release list, and will arrive on Netflix on December 12th. We'll just have to wait and see what Johnson plans for the fourth movie, and what we learn about Daniel Craig's character in the process.

Filmmaker Rian Johnson’s latest big screen effort, Wake Up Dead Man, is the best of the Knives Out films, at least in my mind, despite losing some of the casual humor and charm of its predecessors. The third entry’s religious subject matter and reflections on faith make it somewhat harder for fans to continue pushing for a long-gestating dream crossover movie: Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc enlisting the entire Muppets ensemble to help solve a mystery. Still, you can bet we’ll keep clamoring for it, especially now that the director addressed the idea.

Amazingly enough, Johnson actually gave the mash-up pitch idea full consideration as a self-proclaimed Muppets fan himself, but explained to THR why he doesn’t think it would be nearly as enjoyable as rabid fans believe it would be. As much as it pains me to say it, I kind of agree with his point. Here's what he said:

It's not even just a vocal desire, as fans have put together mash-up videos combining Benoit Blanc and Jim Henson's creations, mostly to positive effect. But all that is of course, just preexisting footage juxtaposed, as opposed to someone crafting an original story for the human and felt-covered characters to partner up on. That's where Johnson's hesitance rears its head, since his detective exists on a plane driven entirely by facts and reality. Meanwhile, the Muppets are the Muppets.

I don't think audiences would get too caught up or upset over a Muppet character being killed off, so long as it's someone who hasn't featured prominently before, in the way that The Simpsons has killed off background characters. (Or, hell, just kill Walter, I guess. Or make it look like he's dead.) Also, it's entirely possible that the Muppets could join an investigation regarding a human being murdered. I get that the crime itself is a sticking point, but this isn't Muppet Babies. (Unless he wanted to make a feature out of that, because I'd take it.)

Rian Johnson continued, saying why he doesn't think the alternate of the above would work either:

I can see how it might take away some of the seriousness of Blanc's past efforts if he spent a whole movie warding off Fozzie's C- puns and Miss Piggy's amorous advances. And while audiences might not care as much, as the character's creator, Johnson likely doesn't want to amend Blanc's legacy in any ways that aren't automatically positive. No good to make such thoughtful movies that could be upended by a clip of Craig attempting to make borscht with Swedish Chef.

It all comes down to this brilliant final sentiment, though, since it should 100% be the grand takeaway that everyone at Disney should be paying attention to. The Last Jedi director concluded with:

Give this man all the money! Especially now that we're in a good spot for in-development Muppet projects. Not only is Seth Rogen working on a new Muppet Show special for Disney+, but also Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone are teaming for a Miss Piggy movie written by Cole Escola. The sting of Muppets Mayhem's cancellation is still there, and likely will be until another new project fills the void.

So hopefully the above pair of projects will work out so succesfully that Disney begs Rian Johnson to tackle the next grouped-up Muppets movie. And that one of the characters will be watching a Knives Out movie, thus bringing Benoit Blanc into the mix in a way that doesn't break canon. In the meantime, Wake Up Dead Man is currently in theaters, with a Netflix premiere date set for December 12.

Rian Johnson has found success with different types of movies, from the neo-noir mystery Brick to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. However, more recently, his name has become synonymous with the murder mystery genre. Between the Knives Out series — the latest of which, Wake Up Dead Man, is set to hit the 2025 movie calendar in December — and Poker Face, Johnson has been a big part of repopularizing the genre, but it turns out the inspiration to do so had been bubbling for longer than we may have realized.

Knives Out was a hit when it was released in 2019, introducing audiences to Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, the world’s greatest detective, with his Southern drawl and wonderfully flamboyant sense of style. It turns out ole Benny rented space in Rian Johnson’s head for some time before he made his debut six years ago. Ram Bergman, co-producer on the Knives Out films, told Variety the idea was born a full decade before the first movie’s release.

In fact, he said that Rian Johnson first mentioned the concept of doing a murder mystery with Benoit Blanc when he was on his first date with Karina Longworth, who he married in 2018.

It's really special that these movies were something that Rian Johnson and Karina Longworth talked about from the very beginning of their relationship and now — more than a decade later and after seven years of marriage — the Benoit Blanc mysteries have become such a phenomenon.

There’s also another pretty cool connection between Karina Longworth and Rian Johnson’s career in murder mysteries. Apparently we have her to thank for Poker Face, as Natasha Lyonne apparently met Johnson at one of Longworth’s book signings. According to SyFy, the Orange Is the New Black star said:

So not only was Karina Longworth around for the birth of Benoit Blanc, but she was apparently instrumental in the creation of Charlie Cale.

Of course, the fate of the case-of-the-week series is up in the air right now, as Peacock canceled Poker Face after Season 2. However, Rian Johnson has confirmed that he’s shopping the series around, with Peter Dinklage possibly in talks to take over the role of the human bullshit detector.

Maybe Rian Johnson should get his wife to work some of her magic with the universe to make that happen, because I like her track record so far!

If you want to revisit Rian Johnson’s murder mystery work, Wake Up Dead Man hits theaters on Friday, December 12, while Knives Out can be streamed on Prime Video and Glass Onion on Netflix. Poker Face, meanwhile, is available on Peacock, so in order to get the best prices on all of these, be sure to check out our Black Friday streaming deals.

Filmmaker Rian Johnson has become synonymous with the Knives Out franchise over the years. And while the third installment Wake Up Dead Man was the hardest to write, he was working with some longtime collaborators like cinematographer Steve Yedlin. And he spoke to CinemaBlend about his many years making movies with Johnson, dating back to when they were teenagers.

Yedlin has worked on a ton of Rian Johnson projects over the years, including his subversive masterpiece Star Wars: The Last Jedi, as well as the comedy mystery series Poker Face (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription). I had the chance to speak with him ahead of the release of Wake Up Dead Man, where Yedlin spoke about his years-long working relationship with Johnson. As he told me:

This sounds like a pretty ideal way to work in the film industry. Not only does Steve Yedlin know that Rian Johnson will likely hire him for any future projects, but they've found a way to collaborate that helps to make each other better. And their trust is part of the reason why projects like the Knives Out franchise look and feel so fresh.

While Rian Johnson can't write the Knives Out movies in advance, it's safe to say that he's got his cinematographer on lock. Later in our conversation, Yedlin spoke about why their working relationship functions so well, saying:

This truly does sound like a winning combination. Because while Rian Johnson offers feedback and direction to Yedlin, it's seemingly in an open-ended way that allows the accomplished cinematographer to use his own expertise and artistic vision. This alchemy of filmmaking is likely why their projects are so consistently captivating, spanning genres and both TV and film. Wake Up Dead Man definitely is a visual treat, one that looks and feels unique to the previous Knives Out films.

Wake Up Dead Man leans more into gothic imagery, and overall feels more spooky than the previous two Knives Out movies which lean more into camp. There are some visually striking moments, especially in the way light comes in and out of the church set, which is the primary location of the film.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is in theaters now as part of the 2025 movie release list, and will start streaming on December 12th for those with a Netflix subscription. Personally, I'll be looking forward to whatever Rian Johnson and Steve Yedlin work on together next.

In honor of Daniel Craig's third feature outing as master investigator Benoit Blanc, I'd love to add a Southern twahy-ang to the entirety of this Wake Up Dead Man review — really give it some pahythos and chah-rick-tahr. But no matter how much I really want to dip my tootsies in those wahtuhs, I won't. For one, that schtick would just distract from the real point, which is something that Rian Johnson's Knives Out villains are known for, and I'm no villain. Second, it would take too long.

Third, and most important for our current purposes, doing so would readily be considered a silly and flighty exercise worthy of Glass Onion's gaggle of affluent knobs. And, my friends, Wake Up Dead Man does not invest any of its time in trying to be frivolous. This is church, not Silly...ville....Station. Which is all to say that though I definitely think Johnson and Craig's third teaming is brilliant, chilling, and the best yet from this murder mystery franchise, it also loses some of the winking charms and situational levity of the first two films. Necessary or not, I wanted to laugh more.

How obvious is it that I'm wearing these molasses-covered tap shoes just so I can slowly dance around the cardinal sin of spoilers? Alas, the church bells are ringing, so let us pray. In the name of the director...

Rian Johnson puts the magnifying glass on religion, faith and community.

Lest anyone think Benoit Blanc's life story is being put under the microscope here, Wake Up Dead Man is about the quirky and interconnected congregation keeping Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude up and running through hell or high falutin' reverands who dare challenge the almighty word of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks – brought to life by Josh Brolin. Brolin brings all the vim, vigor, piss, vinegar and vitriol to Wicks' psychologically sadistic sermons, and one of the biggest (mostly answered) questions viewers will have will no doubt be "Why would anyone put themselves through this?"

The yin to Wicks' da-a-ang is Josh O'Connor's Reverend Jud Duplenticy, who is initially optimistic when Jeffrey Wright's Bishop Langstrom assigns him to a small-town church whose clergy is tight with parishioners. (If you need instant gravitas with limited time on the set, few choices exist that are better than Wright.) Before long, Jud finds his eagerness stunted by Wicks and his subtly tyrannical rule over everyone in his church's pews. Yes, it is HIS church with a captital GTFO if you forget it.

Wake Up Dead Man applies a surprisingly measured approach to its religious subject matter. O'Connor convincingly personifies Jesus' New Testament teachings as a former boxer whose particularly notable crisis of conscience led him to God's graces – which obviously makes Wicks the hard-nosed Old Testament warlord. Benoit Blanc later arrives as the "proud heretic" who only aims to see things through the spectrum of logic and finds that there are indeed values in preaching more than just atheism.

Even beyond all of the moral-centric ways that religion can spice up a murder-mystery, it also sets an interesting stage for Wake Up Dead Man's central murder — remember somebody dies in this? — in a way that allows for certain expectations that aren't necessarily the norm for a murder investigation. Instead of What Would Jesus Do, this is more "What would Benoit Blanc do if faced with the combo of a seemingly impossible murder and a miracle?"

Another all-star Knives Out cast successfully keeps audiences guessing.

Daniel Craig is as dapper and charming as ever as the unstoppable Blanc, and he's once again surrounded by brilliant thespians working all the mystery's machinations. Beyond the aforementioned excellence of O'Connor and Brolin, we have a tabernacle of talent also filling out the list of potential suspects (and victims).

Glenn Close brings single-sighted zealotry to the role of Wicks' second-banana Meredith Delecroix, whose wandering eye is locked on Thomas Haden Church's Cubs-loving groundskeeper Samson Holt. The congregation consists of the secretly boozy town doctor Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner); the successful and self-minded sci-fi author Lee Ross (Andrew Scott); the disabled and cure-seeking former concert cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny); the stressed and put-upon lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington); and the hopeful politician Sy Draven (Daryl McCormack).

Part of the fun of Knives Out films has become seeing the prim and proper Blanc sharing space and ideas with groups of characters he'd likely never mix it up with just for pleasure, and the same holds true with Wake Up Dead Man, even if he most closely works with Jud and the local authorities. Just watching him observe everyone else adds texture to the mystery.

Speak of the local PD, Blanc is brought to the town of Chimney Rock by police chief Geraldine Scott, played by Mila Kunis in what's arguably the least inspired casting choice. Don't get me wrong: I like Kunis and she's fine here, but the role isn't playing to either her comedic or dramatic strengths, and I can imagine others bringing something more memorable to the performance.

I appreciate Johnson stepping back from Glass Onion’s excess, but I do miss some of the silliness.

The murder and the surrounding investigation are rather miticulously laid out, with enough clues sprinkled throughout to keep audiences from falling too far behind the on-screen characters. But even when one does get a piece of the puzzle correct, there's almost always another piece waiting to be discovered that you didn't even realize was missing. In that way, Wake Up Dead Man is as fun as anything else involving church, at least to me.

However, the core concepts and themes of hellfire, damnation, judgment, shame, regret and analogous topics make it less of a joyride than Blanc's earlier cases. Which is perfectly fine, as the standalone nature of this franchise doesn't necessitate tonal similarities or a comedic balance at all. As well, the existence of Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne's Poker Face more than scratches the "serious + hilarious mystery" itch enough that it's not required here.

That's being objective, though, which is for the likes of logical blasphemer Benoit Blanc. Subjectively speaking, I personally wanted more laughs and merriment. But I still cannot deny that Wake Up Dead Man is a highbrow whodunnit that sets a new bar for the Knives Out franchise, as well as any other locked-room thrillers on the way, hand to God.

The Knives Out franchise have consistently brought whodunnits back to theaters (and streaming for those with a Netflix subscription). Along with stellar ensemble casts, they've also each contained subtle voice cameos by frequent Rian Johnson collaborator Joseph Gordon-Levitt. His new movie Wake Up Dead Man is no exception, and he told CinemaBlend where to spot the latest cameo.

What we know about Wake Up Dead Man has been limited, as the franchise tries to guard its secrets. But the latest mystery is now officially in theaters ahead of its release on Netflix in December. As you can see above, Johnson spoke to CinemaBlend ahead of its release, and revealed the sly way he snuck Gordon-Levitt into the threequel. In his words:

Mind blown. This is another blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, especially since the 500 Days of Summer actor isn't physically seen on screen. Instead his voice can be heard as an announcer when Thomas Haden Church's Samson Holt is shown watching a baseball game in his garage. It's certainly not the focus of the scene, which is why it's so easy to miss on the first watch.

While Johnson said Wake Up Dead Man was the hardest Knives Out movie to write, he seemingly didn't have that same struggle with finding a way to include Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Good thing, as now it's something that fans of the franchise look forward to.

For those who don't remember, JGL has had a voice cameo in all three of the Knives Out movies. In the 2019 original movie he can be heard voicing a TV detective in a show Marta's sister is watching. For Glass Onion things got even sillier, with Levitt voicing the dong that goes off every hour for Edward Norton's Miles Bron.

Only time will tell if the Inception actor gets to actually grace the screen in a Knives Out movie. All three installments have featured incredible ensemble casts, and Gordon-Levitt is a versatile talent who could play a variety of roles. It's actually surprising it hasn't happened yet, but these cameos are thoroughly delightful for cinephiles.

Obviously the Knives Out franchise first and foremost stars Daniel Craig, who plays the charming detective Benoit Blanc throughout the trilogy. And while the franchise is very much set up to be an anthology piece, there have been a few other recurring actors. Noah Segan has chewed the scenery in small but hilarious roles in all three titles, and Jeremy Renner's likeness was used ahead of him playing an actual role in Wake Up Dead Man.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is in theaters now as part of the 2025 movie release list. It will become available to stream after its premiere on Netflix December 12th. We'll just have to wait to see what Rian Johnson has up his sleeve for the next installment, and how Joseph Gordon-Levitt ends up being incorporated.

Over the last few years, director Rian Johnson has become synonymous with his Knives Out franchise. The third installment Wake Up Dead Man is heading to theaters shortly before becoming available to stream with a Netflix subscription in December. CinemaBlend spoke to the filmmaker about this threequel, and he offered an update about the fourth movie (and why he hasn't written the franchise in advance). Let's break it all down.

While folks re-watch Knives Out, the third movie Wake Up Dead Man will is heading to theaters. Early reception for Knives Out 3 has been overwhelmingly positive, so it seems like the whodunnit franchise isn't going to stop anytime soon. As you can see in the video above, Johnson spoke to CinemaBlend ahead of the new movie's release, and when asked if the fourth installment is already on its way he said:

This makes a ton of sense to me. Rather than simply churning out new Knives Out stories for the sake of making money, Johnson is making sure that he's telling a compelling enough story. And since he's working on an upcoming movie set outside of the Daniel Craig-led franchise, the development process for the fourth movie might take a while.

Later in the same interview with CinemaBlend, Rian Johnson further explained why he's unable to write the Knives Out movies in advance. Namely because they so often are inspired by what's going on in the real world. As he put it:

Those of us who have followed Benoit Blanc's adventures on the screen so far will know that Johnson is right on the money here. Glass Onion in particular felt very of the moment, as it was set in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. And in order to make each new installment connected to the real world, Rian Johnson can't pen his sequels in advance.

Johnson's comments are sure to inspire questions about what original project he'll be working on prior to Knives Out 4. There are some that are still hoping that Johnson's Star Wars trilogy comes to fruition, considering how The Last Jedi was a subversive masterpiece. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any real news on that front.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery hits theaters November 26th as part of the 2025 movie release list, and will arrive on Netflix December 12th. We'll just have to be patient when waiting for news about the fourth Knives Out flick.

In case you missed the sad news, the second-season run of Poker Face that aired earlier in the 2025 TV schedule was its last, and folks with Peacock subscriptions are not getting a third season on that particular service. The mystery-of-the-week series led by Natasha Lyonne won’t return for Season 3 on the streaming service, but that hasn’t stopped series creator Rian Johnson from shopping a new take on the series featuring Peter Dinklage taking over as lead from Lyonne. For all that I’d love to see that version of the show, what is actually going on following all those rumors?

During the recent premiere of the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Johnson spoke with Deadline about the swirling rumors. He confirmed that yes, he’s actively trying to keep the Poker Face concept alive; and yes, the Emmy-winning actor is central to the pitch he’s taking out. Johnson explained:

That “wild swing” he mentions lines up with earlier reporting that Johnson now envisions Poker Face as an evolving project with new leads every few seasons — essentially handing Charlie Cale's crime-solving mantle to a different actor as the show moves forward. Natasha Lyonne herself, who also executive produced, confirmed in a joint statement that she and Johnson had been planning this shift since wrapping the Season 2 finale. Meaning Dinklage isn’t a panic-induced replacement, but already part of the long-term creative roadmap, at least hypothetically.

Even so, the situation is complicated. Season 2 performed well on Peacock, but not at the breakout level of Season 1, but the series is an expensive one with new locations, settings and guest stars on a weekly basis. Combine that with Lyonne stepping away, and the cancellation starts to make more financial sense. Still, Johnson isn’t treating Poker Face as a finished chapter. He’s treating it like a story engine worth saving, even if it shifts platforms, formats, and even leads.

And honestly, Dinklage is as inspired a pick as you could ask for. He’s funny yet can carry the dramatic weight when he needs to, and his recent work on Dexter: Resurrection tapped into everything that makes him great. So the idea of him playing a road-trip sleuth with a complicated past is definitely the kind of inspired pivot that could give the series a genuinely fresh life.

If Johnson succeeds in taking this idea “out,” whether to HBO, Netflix, Amazon, or anywhere else, fans of the original two seasons of the show should expect a very different Poker Face, but one still rooted in the old-school mystery-of-the-week DNA that made fans fall in love with it. Nothing has been officially greenlit, but Johnson's making noise publicly means this project is far from dead.

We’ll have to wait and see whether this “wild swing” actually becomes the next chapter of Poker Face. In the meantime, Rian Johnson is keeping busy with his other big franchise, Wake Up Dead Man, the newest Knives Out mystery on the 2025 movie schedule. The film arrives in theaters on November 26 and will be available to anyone with a Netflix subscription starting December 12.

After Season 2 of Poker Face aired on the 2025 TV schedule, Rian Johnson's show was unfortunately canceled by Peacock, despite its acclaim. The second season of the crime dramedy has been praised by critics, and its lead, Natasha Lyonne, who said they were bringing more “ridiculous” fun to the series for Season 2. Now, while it did get canceled, don’t count Poker Face out just yet, as there’s a wild plot to save it that features Peter Dinklage. Personally, I’d love to see him on the series, and I couldn’t be happier about the fitting TV executive expressing interest as well.

When it was announced that Peacock opted not to move forward with a third season of Poker Face, it was also revealed that creator Rian Johnson, his T-Street partner Ram Bergman, MRC, and Lyonne were shopping the show to other outlets in the hopes of a new two-season commitment. It was also revealed that while Lyonne would be staying on as executive producer, Dinklage would actually take over the role she originated, Charlie Cale.

Now, while the show has not found a new home yet, Casey Bloys, the chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, revealed that he’s had conversations about the series. He said, via Deadline:

Not only is the concept of Poker Face possibly returning for another season exciting, but the fact that HBO seems to be interested makes it even better, especially when you consider Dinklage’s involvement. Of course, fans know that the actor portrayed Tyrion Lannister on HBO’s massively popular fantasy series Game of Thrones, and the role won him four Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Dinklage returning to HBO for a new series over six years after GOT ended would be pretty great.

If Poker Face were to move to HBO and Dinklage were to take over, this would mark his first role at the premium cable network since Game of Thrones ended in 2019. It sounds like Bloys is interested in bringing Dinklage back into the fold, but even though conversations have happened, there’s no telling how it will all go down. However, the fact that the exec has an interest in the show is encouraging.

Meanwhile, Dinklage has been plenty busy as of late. He can be seen in Dexter: Resurrection, streaming with a Paramount+ subscription, and he reprised his voice role as Doctor Dillamond in the much-anticipated Wicked: For Good. He's also in the crime film Roofman, which premiered earlier on the 2025 movie schedule.

Now, going back to Poker Face, conversations are still pretty early, and it’s unknown which (if any) platform, including HBO, will save Poker Face. However, I know I would love to see Dinklage make his debut as Charlie Cale, and I would love it even more if he did it on HBO.

Poker Face just got a bad beat, and it's not good news for folks with a Peacock subscription. The mystery-of-the-week series led by Natasha Lyonne won’t return for Season 3 on the streaming service, even after a solid sophomore run and plenty of critical love. That would usually be the end of the story, except there’s a crazy curveball: the team behind the show is already shopping a new two-season plan built around Peter Dinklage.

Series creator Rian Johnson, partner Ram Bergman, producer MRC, and Lyonne (who remains an EP) are taking Poker Face to other buyers with an eye on continuity and a bold twist: Peter Dinklage would step into the role of human lie detector Charlie Cale if the show finds a new home, per Deadline. Johnson and Lyonne said they’ve been planning the next phase since writing the Season 2 finale and teased that Charlie could soon be “back on that open highway.”

For newcomers, Poker Face is Johnson’s riff on a classic, Columbo-style format, with each episode presenting a murder that you watch happen, and then follows Charlie, an ex-casino employee with an unfakeable knack for calling lies, as she drifts town to town in a ’69 Plymouth Barracuda and solves what the locals can’t. The first season drew raves and awards attention; Season 2 remained one of Peacock’s beloved series, though ratings were off a bit and costs were high, according to Deadline’s reporting.

The “wild subplot” here is the proposed baton pass. Dinklage wouldn’t play a new character; he’d inherit Charlie Cale, with Johnson hoping to rotate the lead every couple of years.

TV has precedent for this kind of identity handoff (think Doctor Who, The Crown, even the mid-run swap on Bewitched), and the franchise’s case-of-the-week structure makes it easier to pull off than most. It’s also very Johnson, who, with his Knives Out films, changes ensembles around Daniel Craig every time, and he’s long been fascinated with truth-telling as a storytelling engine.

There are still questions. It isn’t clear whether Season 2 showrunner Tony Tost would continue. Distribution is TBD as CAA takes the package to market. But the creative center remains intact, that being this is Johnson’s baby, and the outlet notes he’s prepared to write and direct as needed to steady the retooled version. Lyonne, busy with projects under her Animal banner, would stay on behind the scenes as well.

From a business angle, the move makes sense. Prestige guest stars, travel, and production design aren’t cheap, and asking a new partner for a two-season order provides stability for casting and scheduling while signaling confidence. From a fan angle, the pitch is pretty simple: keep the format and tone, keep Charlie’s gift, but swap the face. Dinklage—fresh off films like Wicked, Roofman, the Toxic Avenger, and a stint on Dexter: Resurrection—brings a different energy and comic bite that could change how episodes play without breaking the show. It’s a weird angle, but one that could definitely work.

Peacock passed on Season 3, but Poker Face isn’t folding and accepting a place on 2025's canceled shows list just yet. If the plan lands, the next iteration will test how elastic Charlie Cale really is as a character, and I’m here to see it.

We’ll have to see how this wild idea plays out. Meanwhile, Rian Johnson has another Knives Out entry, Wake Up Dead Man, on the 2025 movie schedule. It hits theaters on November 26 and streams for anyone with a Netflix subscription on December 12. You can also watch the first two seasons of Poker Face on Peacock.

The movie branch of the Star Wars franchise has been in an interesting position over the past several years, as no theatrical films have been released since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Some films have since entered production, thankfully, though fans were recently met with the news of a scrapped production – a film about Adam Driver’s Ben Solo. Fans lit up social media when sharing their thoughts on the since-rejected script, and it marks yet another big-screen SW production that’s bitten the dust in recent years.

Ben Solo’s Story Would’ve Been Continued In A Film From An A+ Director

Adam Driver recently revealed he teamed up with acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh to develop a story called The Hunt for Ben Solo. The movie would’ve been set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker and focused on the mysterious resurrection of Solo – formerly known as Kylo Ren. Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt produced an outline and pitched it to the Lucasfilm execs, including company president Kathleen Kennedy. Scott Z. Burns was initially commissioned to write a script, but the project ultimately didn’t happen.

Per the Marriage Story alum, it was Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman who shot down the idea, as they were unclear as to how Solo could still be alive. Burns’ screenplay received some massive praise from Driver, who referred to it as “one of the coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been a part of.” Driver also said he felt he had some “unfinished business” with Ben.

For his part, Steven Soderbergh – Out of Sight, Traffic, the Ocean’s Trilogy and more – explained on Bluesky that he “did not enjoy lying about the existence of THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO” but that “it really did need to remain a secret…until now!” In a separate post, Soderbergh added further details regarding the corporate side of the situation:

Star Wars fans have been sounding off on the scrapped project, with many now campaigning for it to happen. Devotees even arranged for an airplane with a banner reading, “Save The Hunt for Ben Solo” to be flown over the Disney offices. The House of Mouse itself has yet to formally respond to the buzz, though a recent video posting of TROS’ final battle convinced some that the studio was trolling fans. This honestly feels like another blow for a fanbase that’s already seen other projects fall by the wayside.

What Other Star Wars Projects Ended Up Being Scrapped?

There’s quite a history of scrapped or discarded Star Wars projects, particularly when it comes to films. In 2018, it was reported that David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the creators of Game of Thrones, would write and produce a new trilogy of SW films, which would theoretically focus on the rise of the Jedi Order. In 2024, Weiss and Benioff didn’t seem bullish about the movies happening due to James Mangold’s (later-announced) movie overlapping with theirs in some ways narratively.

In 2020, it was also reported that Lucasfilm tapped Sleight and Devotion director J.D. Dillard to helm a Star Wars movie. Plot details were (unsurprisingly) kept under wraps at the time. Plans changed by 2022, though, as it was at that time it was reported that Dillard’s film had been dropped, making the SW franchise’s movie future more uncertain.

At present, there are a few other productions that remain in limbo in some ways, including James Mangold’s film about the origins of the Jedi as well as Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film about the new Jedi Order, which would mark the return of Daisy Ridley’s Rey. Also, this year, Last Jedi director Rian Johnson said he’s still open to making his trilogy of films, which was originally announced in 2017 but was later said to be unprioritized by Lucasfilm. The status of films from Patty Jenkins and Taika Waititi are also unclear.

Fans can, at the very least, look forward to The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter, which are set to be released in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Still, some would likely argue that information doesn’t take away the sting of losing The Hunt for Ben Solo or any other scrapped SW fare. For now, let’s pour one out for those projects, and those who want to check out movies and TV shows set within the galaxy far, far away can stream them with a Disney+ subscription.

Rian Johnson has written some incredible movies. Movies like Brick and Looper are still incredibly popular with cinephiles. His two previous movies starring Daniel Craig as Bernoit Blanc, Knives Out and Glass Onion, have been complex murder mysteries while also subverting genre tropes in interesting ways. Perhaps all his previous work set the bar high, as Johnson says his new Benoit Blanc story, Wake Up Dead Man, is the hardest script he’s ever written.

Writing any sort of mystery story has to be difficult. The entire idea is to come up with a story that, while it could be figured out by the audience, is also difficult enough that it is unlikely to be solved before the end. However, Rian Johnson tells Empire that part of what made Wake Up Dead Man so difficult to write was its subject matter, due to his own religious upbringing. He said…

The Wake Up Dead Man trailer shows us that the murder victim will be Monsignor Wicks, played by Josh Brolin, who is seemingly killed while inside a locked room. That premise alone is the sort of thing that would make most mystery writers sweat, but it was more about the religious elements of the story that caused Johnson to spend months simply thinking about the movie before he even started to write it.

The fact that the story surrounds a church isn't simply a setting. To hear Johnson tell it, the movie will deal with religion and faith in a major way, and while Johnson isn’t religious himself anymore, he still wanted to approach all of it in a way that gave the proper respect to the subject matter. He continued…

Perhaps the deeper themes of Wake Up Dead Man are part of the reason that the Knives Out sequel is the most straightforward mystery of the trilogy. It looks like Rian Johnson gave himself quite a challenge with the new movie. We’ll all see whether or not he succeeded when the film hits theaters for a brief run next month, ahead of it being made available with a Netflix subscription in December.

Rian Johnson’s mystery films starring Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc owe their existence to classic murder mysteries like those from the great Agatha Christie. Having said that, the films have also been very different, with Knives Out and Glass Onion both including some sort of significant twist on the genre tropes.

As somebody who loves classic murder mysteries, the twists in the previous Rian Johnson movies have been fun ways to refresh a tired genre. At the same time, the tropes of the classic whodunit are part of what makes the genre so much fun. This is why I’m so happy to learn that while the newest Knives Out Mystery, Wake Up Dead Man, will be darker than the previous mysteries, it will also be more like a classic murder mystery than the previous films. Speaking with Deadline, Rian Johnson said…

The setup of Wake Up Dead Man, at least in structure, sounds a lot like that of Knives Out. In that case, Ana de Armas played the film’s actual protagonist, with Daniel Craig’s detective only getting called in after she found herself involved in a murder. The major twist there was that the protagonist was also the killer, or at least that’s the way it seemed for the majority of the film.

In this case, Josh O'Connor will be taking on that role as the film's protagonist. Based on the Wake Up Dead Man trailer, it appears O'Connor will act as a sort of assistant to Craig's Benoit Blanc.

Both Knives Out and Glass Onion change up the traditional mystery by giving the audience more information than they usually have in this type of story. It sounds like, in the case of Wake Up Dead Man, if it is a “more traditional murder mystery structure” that may not be the case. If we get a setup that opens like Knives Out, but without that additional information, we’ll have a movie that will probably follow most of the classic murder mystery set pieces.

As much as I love the way Rian Johnson has put his own twist on the genre, I’ve always wanted to see Benoit Blanc in a more traditional mystery. If I, as an audience member, am given all the same clues as Benoit Blanc, could I solve the mystery before he does? I'd like the opportunity to find out, and the previous films haven't really given us that opportunity.. If this is the last Benoit Blanc mystery, it would be great if the final film subverts our expectations of the murder mystery by actually giving us a classic one.

When Rian Johnson released Knives Out, it was something of a revelation. The writer/ director’s take, which is equal parts homage and subversion on the classic whodunit, was a smash hit. This lead to the movie getting the green light for not one, but two sequels out of the gate. The third entry in the franchise Wake Up Dead Man is set to arrive in theaters soon, ahead of it becoming available with a Netflix subscription, but one of the biggest questions won’t be whodunit. It will be, will there be more?

It’s unclear what the odds are of getting a fourth mystery with Benoit Blanc, aka Daniel Craig’s detective who has already joined the ranks of some of the greatest in the genre. If it does happen, the movie will have to collect another ensemble that is on par with the incredible casts of the first three movies Although, when asked by Variety which actor from the previous films he would like to see return, Craig did quickly come up with a name, saying…

The cast of the three Benoit Blanc movies have been stellar, so seeing any of them return would be fantastic for the simple reason that they’re all great actors. Of course, Jamie Lee Curtis has indicated a willingness to return to Rian Johnson’s Knives Out universe, so Craig seemingly feels he has to pick her.

But let’s not pretend that seeing Jame Lee Curtis return, for whatever contrived reason one could come up with, wouldn’t be fantastic. She was stellar in Knives Out, and she was one of the characters who was especially good at not being impressed by Benoit Blanc. This would likely make her return especially exciting if it happened.

Of course, Daniel Craig follows his choice of Jamie Lee Curtis by saying that all of the casts are great and he would love to see them all return for a theoretical fourth movie. The Wake Up Dead Man cast is one to rival the others for star power, to be sure. It’s clear that Craig is as impressed with the casts in these movies as everybody else. He said…

The only thing left to wish for is more Benoit Blanc movies. I certainly hope we see more of them. One of the great things about a genre like the whodunit is that they really can go on forever. Based on the early response to Wake Up Dead Man is another great

I hope we see many more with even more incredible casts. And if they can figure out away for Jamie Lee Curtis, and maybe a few others, to return now and then, so much the better.

A number of titles on the 2025 movie schedule are greatly anticipated by cinephiles, and one of those is definitely Wake Up Dead Man. The film is the third entry in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out franchise, which centers on mystery-centric exploits of southern sleuth Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig). Early glimpses at the film have suggested that this installment has a different tone compared to its predecessors. Now that the movie has been screened, that tonal change has been confirmed, and audiences seem to love it thus far.

The first teaser for Wake Up Dead Man was released a few months ago and conveyed a gothic aesthetic, and that differed from the motifs of Knives Out and Glass Onion. After the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, many pundits made note of the change when sharing their reactions. Collider’s Perri Nemiroff shared effusive praise for the mystery flick, calling it "refreshingly different” and heaping praise on the cast:

Another aspect of Rian Johnson’s threequel that’s been emphasized as of late is religion, which seems to play into the story heavily. Journalist Mike Ryan mentioned that element while sharing positive thoughts on the movie himself. And, while Johnson has been known to deliver some major twists in his whodunit franchise, it seems the altered tone is what caught really Ryan by surprise (in a good way):

Specific plot details on the third Knives Out movie are scarce but, based on what’s been shown thus far, Rian Johnson takes viewers to church (figuratively and literally) for a murder case that truly tests Benoit Blanc. The skilled detective seems to be in a different frame of mind this time around, at least that’s what his wild new haircut seems to suggest. Daniel Craig leads yet another star-studded ensemble, which includes Josh O’Connor, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Daryl McCormack, Cailee Spaeny and Thomas Haden Church.

The ensembles have been among the greatest strengths of these Blanc movies, and it seems the third flick in the series excels in that regard as well. It’s also not uncommon for there to be a standout or two. When sharing his own reaction, pundit Scott Menzel not only praised the movie, but he singled out Josh O’Connor’s performance as well:

The first two films in Rian Johnson’s franchise are great, so he had a high bar to clear when it came to this latest one. Nevertheless, journalist Lauren Bradshaw opined that this 2025 Netflix movie release proves this IP still has some kick to it. Like some others, Bradshaw also made note of the change in tone:

Considering all of this praise, ranking these three mystery films may be a difficult feat. If you ask reporter Scott Mantz, though, he’d seemingly tell you that this newest installment is the one to beat:

As a fan of the Knives Out movies myself, I couldn’t be more excited hearing all of the strong sentiments being shared about Wake Up Dead Man. Rian Johnson doesn’t have immediate plans for the future of this franchise, as of right now. Yet, should this be the end of Benoit Blanc, it sounds like this somewhat somber film could make for a solid trilogy capper. Check out the film, which hits select theaters for a limited time on November 26, and it’ll later be available for Netflix subscription holders to stream, starting December 12.

In 2019, Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc joined Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and so many more as one of the great fictional detectives thanks to his investigation in Knives Out. Blanc returned three years later for Glass Onion, and Wake Up Dead Man will bring him back into our lives towards the end of the 2025 movies calendar. The first teaser for the informally-known Knives Out 3 revealed that it will skew darker compared to its predecessors, and I’m especially intrigued by what writer/director Rian Johnson recently said about how this case affect impact Craig’s character.

This time around, there’s a religious bent to the murder that Benoit Blanc’s looking into, as the Netflix subscription-exclusive Wake Up Dead Man centers around a New England church. Johnson told Empire that “all the suspects are regulars in the parish,” but this won’t be a simple solve for Blanc, even going off the standards set by Knives Out and Glass Onion. The filmmaker explained:

The more I learn about Wake Up Dead Man, the more it reminds me of A Haunting in Venice, i.e. Kenneth Branagh’s third outing as the aforementioned Hercule Poirot. Following Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, the 2023 movie not only thrust Agatha Christie’s creation into significantly darker territory as well, it also involved what appeared to be supernatural elements at first. As with A Haunting in Venice, it stands to reason that Benoit will eventually uncover that these “miraculous” things are not what they seem.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Blanc investigation without him teaming up with someone. In Knives Out, that was Ana de Armas’ Marta Cabrera, and then Glass Onion brought in Janelle Monáe’s Helen Brand. Josh O’Connor’s Father Judge will be Blanc’s partner in Wake Up Dead Man, with Rian Johnson adding:

Might some of that “shit” be him breaking up with Hugh Grant’s Phillip, whom we briefly saw in Glass Onion? Or did something else happen to Benoit Blanc in the time since we last saw him on Miles Bron’s island? Whatever’s happening with him, it sounds like this case at the church will impact him more personally than his previous two cinematic adventures.

Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor are joined in Wake Up Dead Man by Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack and Thomas Haden Church. Watch it on Netflix starting Friday, December 12.

Star Wars movies returned to theaters with the sequel trilogy, as well as standalone movies (both of which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription). Filmmaker Rian Johnson famously directed The Last Jedi, which subverted fan expectations and became a talking point for years. There were rumors that he might be returning for The Rise of Skywalker, and now the Poker Face creator has shared the truth behind that chatter.

Prior to creating the Knives Out franchise (streaming with a Netflix subscription), Johnson took bold narrative swings with The Last Jedi that I personally think have aged well. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he was asked about when, chronologically, he had talks to potentially direct Episode IX. He shed light on this rumor, saying:

That does clear things up. While it sounds like there was some talks, Rian Johnson wasn't campaigning to direct a follow-up to The Last Jedi. And ultimately that's not the way that Kathleen Kennedy decided to take the final chapter in the sequel trilogy.

Later in that same interview, he was asked if the possibility of directing Episode IX affected his work on The Last Jedi. Specifically, if he had to cram in more story and twists upon realizing he wasn't going to stay on. He shut that down, instead offering:

Rather than a two-movie narrative, The Last Jedi told a more contained story that was always meant to be the second part of a larger trilogy. Rather than offer teases for upcoming Star Wars movies, instead Johnson wrapped up a number of ongoing plot lines... albeit in surprising ways. Snoke was unceremoniously killed off, Ray was (temporarily) revealed to be no one, and Luke Skywalker returned to The Force after his time in isolation.

For years after The Last Jedi's release, there were reports that Rian Johnson was getting his trilogy of Star Wars movies, but he's yet to return to the galaxy far, far away. There doesn't appear to be any progress on that point, but hopefully the timing will work out one day.

The Last Jedi is streaming on Disney+, along with the rest of the Star Wars franchise. George Lucas' beloved universe isn't expected to return to theaters until Daisy Ridley's Rey movie arrives.

There are major franchies and then there's Star Wars. With generations growing up on the galaxy far far away (and streaming it with a Disney+ subscription), eyes are always on the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows that are on their way. Fans have been wondering for years about Rian Johnson's trilogy of movies, and the filmmaker recently got honest about whether or not we'll ever actually see them.

Johnson's The Last Jedi was a subversive masterpiece in my opinion, which is why I've been hyped to see the Knives Out filmmaker return to the franchise. He's been busy with those whodunnits and Poker Face (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription), so there hasn't been much news about his Star Wars venture. The director spoke to Rolling Stone and got honest about the likelihood of us actually seeing that announced trilogy. In his words:

Well, now I'm bummed. While Johnson still has interest in more projects within George Lucas' colorful galaxy, there aren't any real plans for that. Instead, the filmmaker is keeping busy with original IPs, including the ongoing Knives Out franchise (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription).

When Knives Out was a huge success and the first sequel Glass Onion was quickly greenlighted and produced, fans like me wondered how this might influence Rian Johnson's Star Wars trilogy. And it turns out that my fears might have been warranted, as he's seemingly not moving forward with those movies anytime soon... if at all. Excuse me while I go re-watch The Last Jedi for the millionth time.

The Star Wars franchise has been noticeably missing from theaters since The Rise of Skywalker was released back in 2019. While the franchise has continued growing thanks to new shows on Disney+, it should be interesting to see if/when the beloved property returns to the big screen. We just shouldn't expect Rian Johnson to be the first director to start production.

Lucasfilm announced a new trilogy of Star Wars movies, including Daisy Ridley's return as Rey. None of those are coming from Rian Johnson, although their development is still early. As such, we shouldn't expect any big screen adventures on the 2025 movie release list. But that won't stop fans from holding out hope there's a Star Wars flick sooner rather than later.

I have never been shy about expressing my love for Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi. I published my four-and-a-half star review for CinemaBlend the day the critic embargo lifted, and I stand by every point I made: from my appreciation of the unexpected plot twists and visual style to my lukewarm feelings about the Canto Bight storyline. That being said, since seeing J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker and witnessing all of the ways that the final film in the Skywalker Saga tried to reverse all of the changes Johnson made, I have wondered about what kind of communication that went down between the two directors as The Last Jedi was developed – particularly in regards to the role/non-role ultimately played by Andy Serkis' Supreme Leader Snoke.

Thanks to Rolling Stone, that relationship has now been clarified. A new interview with Rian Johnson is principally about the second season of Poker Face (now available to stream in full with a Peacock subscription), but the filmmaker is also asked about the discussions he had with J.J. Abrams in the making of The Last Jedi and the shocking fate of Snoke. Watching The Force Awakens, one might get the sense that the villain is being set up as the true big bad of the sequel trilogy... but Johnson felt it was more dramatic for him to act as a stepping stone for Adam Driver's Kylo Ren:

While J.J. Abrams was seemingly thinking about mirroring a Darth Vader/Emperor Palpatine dynamic for Kylo Ren and Supreme Leader Snoke, Johnson felt it was more dramatic to do something fresh and different with the characters instead of just echoing what audiences have already seen.

As for the discussions that Johnson had with Abrams, the former says that there were conversations about the big picture direction of the Star Wars franchise – but Abrams was in the midst of making The Force Awakens, and Johnson was left to his creative instincts to run with the canon ideas. Said the Knives Out director,

Rian Johnson was also dealing with a certain pressure generated by the legacy of the canon. In discussions of the original trilogy, people love Star Wars a.k.a. A New Hope, but the best movie in the canon is Empire Strikes Back, and it's because of the way it rocks the audience in the aftermath of the previous chapter. The seminal 1977 blockbuster is a classic hero's journey and a tale of good defeating evil, but the sequel has said hero learn a devastating truth about his parentage, lose his hand, and see his friend frozen in a block of metal.

The Last Jedi writer/director was given specific instructions from LucasFilm and studio president Kathy Kennedy to bring something like that to the experience of The Last Jedi. While there are people who didn't like what resulted, he went with what he felt was the best and most dramatic direction for the story. Johnson continued,

Love it or hate it, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a key piece of lore in the franchise, and if you're in the first camp, you can stream the blockbuster ad infinitum with a Disney+ subscription.

Throughout his illustrious career, Bruce Willis made a name for himself as one a premier movie star. Not only that, many have since lauded Willis for his generosity as a performer and person. The A-lister also, however, earned a reputation for being somewhat headstrong when it came to working with certain directors. Filmmaker Rian Johnson had the opportunity to work with Willis on the acclaimed sci-fi film Looper, and he just opened up about what it was like working with the beloved star.

Looper is easily one of Rian Johnson’s seminal films, and it not only struck gold at the box office but also received critical acclaim. (The film even influenced Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival when it came to time travel.) A lot had to come together for the ambitious film to get off the ground, of course. During a recent chat with Rolling Stone, Rian Johnson recalled making the flick and explained just how crucial it was for the Die Hard icon to sign on. Johnson also revealed what he knew of his prospective co-lead’s reputation at that point:

Bruce Willis’ relationships with directors varied, with some referring to him as a delight and others making note of difficulties they had working with him. Die Hard 2 director Renny Harlin recalled having disagreements with Willis while making the film. Cop Out director Kevin Smith said he experienced “true darkness” when working with Willis on the 2010 comedy film. However, Smith later apologized to Willis for his remarks following the latter’s retirement from acting in 2022.

When Rian Johnson discussed his experience with the Moonlighting veteran, he had nothing but positive sentiments to share. Johnson didn’t seek to underplay the experiences that other filmmakers apparently had with the actor while sharing his own. However, he didn’t hold back when explaining why Bruce Willis was such a pleasure to work with on Looper (which is available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription):

I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall while the 2012 thriller film was being shot, if only to rub shoulders with the impeccable cast. The film also stars the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano and Jeff Daniels. Someone would be hard-pressed to find a better assortment of actors.

Looper still stands as one of Bruce Willis’ best movies. At present, Willis himself is retired from acting, having unfortunately stepped away from the profession due to his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. Various stars have honored him since then, with Rian Johnson doing so as well in 2022. He referred to Willis as one of the “all-time great movie stars of our generation.” I’m glad Willis and Johnson were able to work together and that it was a fruitful partnership.

Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series of movies continues this year with Wake Up Dead Man being among Netflix's 2025 releases. So, as we approach Benoit Blanc’s latest case, if you're wondering whether it will be the cap-off to a trilogy or simply another entry, the writer/director has offered his take on the subject.

Rian Johnson Shares Thoughts On The Future Of The Knives Out

On the heels of Johnson closing out the critically acclaimed second season of Poker Face, the filmmaker was asked about how he’s feeling about the future of his other mystery-based project, the Knives Out movies. In his words to Rolling Stone:

Now, Knives Out 4 doesn’t seem to be in development yet, but from where Rian Johnson stands, it sounds like Wake Up Dead Man will not be the end of the Benoit Blanc series. The filmmaker hasn’t stopped having fun with his original murder mystery concept, and as long as that’s central to the experience, there could be many more Knives Out mysteries ahead of us.

Johnson also told the magazine that what he ends up “chasing” when making a movie or TV show is “the experience.” And, he’s not looking to feel like he’s “eating the same thing for lunch every day” when it comes to his work. In terms of Knives Out, because he’s had the chance to play with tone and genre each time, he’s happy to keep playing within the universe. But, that being said, he also has hopes to make a musical at some point, and is currently writing a “stand-alone thing” as his “next thing.”

What’s Going On With Knives Out 3?

Here’s what we know so far about Wake Up Dead Man. Once again, Benoit Blanc will be going to a whole new setting for his next case, and this one seems to revolve around some kind of “impossible crime" that is being “dressed as a miracle” with a church being a key setting. Based on the marketing so far, Josh O’Connor seems to be a major lynchpin of the movie. Check out the Wake Up Dead Man teaser below:

Once again, the cast is very much stacked for the latest Benoit Blanc mystery, with Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church, and Daniel Craig, of course, all being involved.

The movie will be available to watch with a Netflix subscription on December 12. And it seems like there will be more mysteries afoot in the future if Rian Johnson has anything to say about it.

As of late, Rian Johnson has become synonymous with the mystery genre for movie and TV lovers thanks to his Knives Out movies and the Poker Face series having just began its new season to the 2025 TV schedule. But what if Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc and Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale teamed up at some point? Could that happen, please?

Now that Poker Face Season 2 has started over on Peacock, Natasha Lyonne actually brought up the idea herself when she was asked about the idea of Charlie Cale ever making it to the big screen with one of her mysteries. Here’s what she said:

While speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Lyonne shared her million dollar idea, and now I officially need this in my life. This is an especially exciting answer because the Poker Face star is also behind the writing, and serves as executive producer and has helmed a couple episodes of the show.

I’m particularly interested in this because I’m so curious how the two detectives would interact with the other. While Benoit Blanc is more of a straight shooter with a Southern draw, Charlie Cale is a lot more rough around the edges. I think they would definitely butt heads, which would make for a great, unlikely detective duo that's very comedic, and now I need this to happen.

Poker Face returned last week with a more “ridiculous” season and a ton more exciting celebrity guests like John Mulaney, who acts our socks off in his episode, and Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo. Oh, and Daniel Craig is also set to play Benoit Blanc again in the third Knives Out movie, Wake Up, Dead Man. Seeing both of their new cases is only going to make me want this more, I know it.

However, Natasha Lyonne's answer got a little bit wild when she joked that she also wants to get The Pink Panther involved, or at least have the late Henry Mancini score the movie. Which is, of course, impossible unless they use already composed pieces of music. All in all, Lyonne particularly has her eye on doing more roles that can be seen on the big screen. As she continued:

Did you know that Natasha Lyonne is working on an A.I.-assisted movie called Uncanny Valley? Sure, there’s often a negative connotation around A.I. being connected to filmmaking lately, but the movie is about a teen starting to lose her grip on reality due to an augmented reality video game, so I think she’s doing so for a good reason.

It's great to hear Lyonne is down for a Poker Face movie, and crossover with Knives Out, because she could actually help make it happen.

Rian Johnson’s Poker Face starring Natasha Lyonne became an instant hit when it premiered for Peacock subscription holders back in 2023, and now the long-awaited second season of the refreshing “howcatchem” murder mystery is finally upon us. Critics were able to screen the new episodes before they hit the 2025 TV schedule, so are we in for more fun times seeing Charlie Cale literally call out people’s “Bullshit,” or is the murder-magnet premise getting stale?

Just as Season 1 featured plenty of recognizable faces for Charlie to encounter as she solved her case of the week, Poker Face Season 2 has tapped some A+ guest stars, including Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Holmes and Cynthia Erivo, who was able to squeeze in her appearance while doing press for Wicked. So, how does the sophomore season live up to the first? Alison Herman of Variety says it evolves by toying with the show’s baseline. Herman writes:

Gavia Baker-Whitelaw of TV Guide says the creative team behind Poker Face has settled into a reliable groove, giving us more of what we loved from Season 1 with larger-than-life guest stars and cartoonish criminals. Fans can rest assured, it’s still one of the best murder mysteries on TV, the critic says, writing:

Belen Edwards of Mashable, however, points out that even with a set formula, the showrunners are constantly changing things up and finding new ways to play within those constraints, ensuring that Poker Face remains one of the most fun shows on TV. Rewards says:

David Opie of Empire gives the second season 4 out of 5 stars, writing that if the show stays this consistently impressive, it could easily go for 10 more seasons. Natasha Lyonne has created a deadpan masterpiece with her laid-back Charlie Cale. However, Opie continues:

Ben Travers of IndieWire praises Natasha Lyonne for bringing us more of her enjoyable Charlie Cale. The critic grades the season a B, noting that two tweaks to Poker Face’s format help to distinguish this batch of episodes from its original run. Travers continues:

It sounds like critics agree that Poker Face Season 2 gives us more of what we loved the first time around, while still updating its formula enough to differentiate it from its rookie run. The first three episodes are available to stream on Peacock now, with one new episode dropping every Thursday through its 12-episode order.

It goes without saying that the way in which the general public consumes media is changing, and that’s especially true when it comes to motion pictures. There’s currently a debate revolving around the merits of releasing movies on streaming platforms and forgoing theatrical releases. Netflix co-head honcho Ted Sarandos has been a major advocate for streaming and recently opined that theaters are no longer practical. Filmmaker Rian Johnson, whose Knives Out 3 is set to hit streaming later this year, is now responding.

What Did Ted Sarandos Say About The Current Role Of Movie Theaters?

The last several years have seen a number of original movies become available to Netflix subscription holders, from Red Notice and Enola Holmes to Don’t Look Up! and Extraction. Critical reception to the streamer’s film offerings has varied, but many of their titles have reportedly logged massive viewing numbers for the company. Ted Sarandos spoke about the growing dominance of streaming during the Time100 Summit. During his interview, which is on YouTube, the co-CEO was honest when discussing his take on cinemas:

The businessman also said he doesn’t believe the process described above is an “outmoded” idea for everyone and that he loves theaters himself. However, he does firmly believe that growing trends as well as global box office returns point to consumers preferring to enjoy movies at home. And, given that, he believes that his company is “saving Hollywood” by catering to the continued changes in the entertainment landscape. Still, at least one filmmaker he’s been working with has a different opinion.

How Did Rian Johnson Respond To Ted Sarandos’ Comments?

Rian Johnson, who’s currently promoting Poker Face Season 2, spoke to Business Insider, during which he was asked about his colleague’s assessment. He was careful when choosing his words, but he also made his stance on movie theaters clear:

The Looper director has long made his love for movie theaters known, and that’s continued as he’s crafted his string of whodunit movies. Such enthusiasm has continued in the lead-up to his 2025 movie release, Wake Up Dead Man. The film’s leading man, Daniel Craig, has been honest about wanting Knives Out sequels to hit multiplexes and have a solid run there. Craig admitted that it “saddens” him that the films don’t receive longer theatrical windows and, at this point, Rian Johnson is hoping that happens with his latest flick:

While I’m someone who enjoys going to the movies, I can understand both sides of this discussion. It’s true that there are plenty of people who would prefer to watch a movie from the comfort of their own home. However, there are still a number of people who are still venturing to theaters to watch films in 2025. The remarkable box office success of Sinners is a testament to that as are the major receipts for A Minecraft Movie.

All in all, both Ted Sarandos and Rian Johnson are entitled to their opinions. What I’m most curious to see, though, is just how long a run Wake Up Dead Man will receive. Its predecessor, 2022’s Glass Onion, played in theaters for a week, grossing an impressive $15 million – which became the widest theatrical opening for a Netflix film. With Johnson’s latest film set to release later this year, it’s likely that we’ll hear about its release strategy sooner rather than later.

Easily, one of my most anticipated releases on the 2025 movie schedule is the third Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man. I can’t wait to see what Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig have up their sleeves for Benoit Blanc’s next mystery, and I’m dying (pun intended) to know what roles everyone in this staked cast is playing. However, while the characters and their purposes in the story remain unknown, I have a theory about the part Josh O’Connor will play in this new whodunnit thanks to a first-look image.

In one of the first images released from Wake Up Dead Man (which you can see below), we got to see Daniel Craig back as his ever-dapper Benoit Blanc. He’s standing in a church and looking a bit shaggier than usual – which I’d like to know more about. However, more interestingly, Josh O’Connor’s character is standing right behind him, leaning against a pew.

It’s fascinating to me that in this first-look image, we only got to see two actors featured in this truly stacked cast. However, it gave me a theory. I think Josh O’Connor could be playing the central character in this Knives Out mystery who is integral to the murder and taken under Benoit’s wing.

Think about it, in Knives Out cast, Ana de Armas plays the seemingly innocent Marta who is basically attached to Benoit’s hip as he works to solve the case. She was vital in figuring out who killed Harlan, and ultimately, she was the big winner in the story.

When you think about the Glass Onion cast, Janelle Monáe’s character (sorry, spoilers) Andi/Helen had a similar purpose in the story. She is on the island to figure out what happened to her sister, and she and Craig’s detective work together to do just that.

I suspect that if Josh O’Connor is the only supporting actor featured in Wake Up Dead Man’s first image, his character could fall into this place within the mystery. He could be the lynchpin of the story and a fantastic assistant to our favorite Southern detective.

He’d be perfect for the part too! Like both de Armas and Monáe, he can do just about anything, and I expect he’ll have exceptional chemistry with Daniel Craig, as the two actresses did.

After watching O’Connor’s Actors on Actors interview with Craig, I’ve seen how funny they can be together, and I desperately need that to translate on screen in Wake Up Dead Man. I can imagine the Challengers star following the detective around in a confused and silly manner that has the potential to perfectly balance out the seemingly darker mystery – considering the film’s deadly title – Rian Johnson has planned. Honestly, they seem like a match made in actor heaven, and I think it’d be a blast to see them solving a murder together.

Of course, this is simply a theory, and anyone in this cast could serve as the detective’s right-hand witness. And while I don’t know if my dream here will pan out, I know I won’t be disappointed no matter what happens. Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig haven’t failed us with these films, and with a cast that includes O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner and many more, I’m positive we’re going to be in for one hell of an entertaining mystery.

Knives Out 3, now officially titled Wake Up Dead Man, is set to bring fresh murder and a fresh new look for Daniel Craig to the 2025 movie schedule. Not to mention, it also features another star-studded cast that includes Josh O’Connor, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, and Jeremy Renner (despite his silly role as himself in Glass Onion). Along with them, Josh Brolin, another Marvel alum joined the latest Knives Out mystery, and now he's opening up about it!

Since we are still waiting on a trailer, much of this movie’s plot and characters remain as much a mystery to solve as the perpetual murder of the film. What we do know about Wake Up Dead Man is that Josh Brolin seems to have a serious role in it.

The Dune alum was recently asked at New York Comic Con, via People, about his role in Knives Out 3, and the Sicario actor slipped us a crumb in response:

Could this be his most intense role yet? That’s a tall order given he played the overarching villain Thanos in the MCU. Anything that can shake Thanos makes me worried about what this film has in store, but in a good way. I don’t think the Avengers: Infinity War actor is hinting at his character being the culprit. That would be too easy. Although maybe he’s trying to throw us off his tracks…

Honestly, anything’s possible when it comes to director Rian Johnson’s Oscar-nominated murder mystery series, and I gave up a long time ago trying to predict the twists and turns. Knives Out was so successful with audiences that the Star Wars: The Last Jedi director scored a huge deal with Netflix for the franchise’s sequels, making the Knives Out films some of the best on the legacy streamer. The Outer Range star says that’s not an accident with the Brick filmmaker at the helm, and it’s why he was a fan of the films previously, explaining:

While you can’t deny the quality of the writing, there's also no denying the star power that propels these movies. As Kerry Washington put it, it’s like summer camp for the actors, where you can’t wait to see which celebrity friends hop off the bus onto the set. When it was announced there would be a third installment of the franchise, fans took to the internet to share some pretty unhinged dream castlists too, showing how much anticipation there is to see this ensemble together.

In Brolin’s opinion, there couldn’t be a more perfect group of actors for this movie, as he said:

Those are just the main actors. One of the best parts about the Knives Out mysteries has to be all the celebrity cameos sprinkled in. We can absolutely count on a Joseph Gordon-Levitt cameo given the 500 Days of Summer actor has appeared in every Rian Johnson film in some way shape or form.

So, overall, I'm feeling the same kind of excitement Brolin is feeling, and I can't wait to see him and cast together on screen.

There are only so many guesses and assumptions to be made though when it comes to the mystery that's about to unfold. While I’ll eat up every behind-the-scenes teaser the cast has to offer, I really need a trailer soon.

We know the film wrapped in August thanks to Jeremy Renner, so hopefully, a teaser trailer will drop soon that includes Brolin's scary character so we can have more to analyze. Until then, if you need a refresher on where we last left the genius detective, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is available to stream with a Netflix Subscription.

The 2025 movie schedule is filled with feature films that I’m looking forward to seeing, but there are a few titles that really have pumped. One of those is Rian Johnson’s Knives Out 3, which has stirred up much buzz in recent months. The film, which is formally titled Wake Up Dead Man, began filming earlier this summer, with Johnson’s all-star cast reporting for duty. Now, surprisingly, it would seem that the latest installment in the murdery-mystery franchise has already wrapped. That was confirmed via some killer social media posts from both Johnson and cast member Jeremy Renner, and they’ve just made me even more excited for the flick.

Jeremy Renner shared the news on his Instagram story this afternoon. The fan-favorite actor marked the occasion by sharing a selfie, which appears to provide the public with its first glimpse at his character. He also captioned the photo with an enthusiastic message, “That’s a wrap!!!!” You can check out the post for yourself down below:

Even though the post itself only represents a small behind-the-scenes tidbit from production, I’ll certainly take it! It’s also cool that the star provided what appears to be the first look at his character, whose name (of course) has yet to be revealed. As sweet as this post is though, it’s Rian Johnson’s that really has my interest piqued. The witty Looper director signified the end of principal photography with a black-and-white photo. When looking at Johnson’s snapshot, one can see what appears to be a cemetery in the background. But, at the forefront, is a note with a cheeky – and somewhat morbid – message:

As you can see above, the Star Wars: The Last Jedi director also included a sweet message as his caption. He thanked the cast and crew for their efforts while calling this shoot a “very special experience.” Based on BTS stories that have been shared about the previous Knives Out movies, it seems like the filmmaker and his collaborators have a lot of fun making these flicks. That would definitely track in this fan’s opinion, given just how enjoyable each of the films are.

Rian Johnson marked the beginning of filming in June by sharing a wild photo of Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, the lead character of the franchise. As was the case with the first two installments, fans are particularly excited about the ensemble of actors that’s been assembled. They were so pumped they even shared “unhinged” casting ideas early on. But officially joining Craig and the aforementioned Jeremy Renner are Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, Andrew Scott, Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Thomas Haden Church and Daryl McCormack.

It’ll also be intriguing to see just what kind of mystery Rian Johnson has cooked up for this latest installment. While death has always been a theme in this franchise, the title for the threequel suggests that this upcoming movie will be particularly morbid. I’m also curious as to why the usually dapper Benoit Blanc looked so disheveled in the first-look image Johnson shared. There are a lot of questions that need to be considered, and history would suggest that it’ll be a while before fans are provided with some bread crumbs.

Regardless, I’m just comforted by the fact that the movie is officially in the can and is about to be edited. Considering how good the first two entries in the series are, the Brick director certainly has a high bar to clear. But I have no doubt that he, Jeremy Renner and their collaborators will accomplish just that!

While you wait for Wake Up Dead Man, rent or buy Knives Out on Amazon Prime Video, and stream Glass Onion with a Netflix subscription. You can also check out the 2024 movie schedule for information on big-screen fare that’s headed to theaters over the next several months.

I realize that I’m not an actor and have no reason to be jealous of them, however, the more I know about Knives Out 3 (AKA Wake Up Dead Man), the more I want to be a part of the making of this movie. Most recently, Kerry Washington spoke out about how excited she is to start filming with her co-stars like Josh Brolin and Glenn Close, and as I said, I can’t help but be a tad jealous over and overwhelmingly hyped about this project on the 2025 movie schedule.

Now that the cast of Wake Up Dead Man is known, and Rian Johnson announced that Knives Out 3 is filming, the actors in this ensemble are getting asked about the project. Of course, they have to keep things pretty close to the chest when it comes to plot details. However, while talking to People, Kerry Washington shared how excited she is to start working on this highly anticipated whodunnit:

I imagine it is like summer camp. Both the Knives Out cast and Glass Onion ensemble were stacked with A-Listers, and Wake Up Dead Man is no different. Summer camp feels like an appropriate way to describe working on this movie, especially when the list of co-stars is as fun as this one. Along with Washington, Johnson has assembled quite the crew, which includes: Daniel Craig (of course), Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Mila Kunis, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church, and MCU pals turned whodunnit co-stars, Jeremy Renner and Josh Brolin.

When you mix an ensemble like that with a stunning location like the mansions in the first two mysteries from Rian Johnson, I’m sure it does feel like summer camp.

Washington went on to say that she’s also excited about the project because it will reunite her with some old friends, she said:

For some context, the Scandal star and Glenn Close were both in the 2004 TV movie Strip Search. Washington also worked with Brolin on The Dead Girl, which came out in 2006 – and, fun fact, also starred OG Knives Out star Toni Collette. So, it’ll be exciting to see these folks reunite on screen two decades later.

Along with that, Washington referenced her “new friends.” One of the reasons these films are so delightful is they bring together a cast you’d never expect. Seeing veteran actors like Kerry Washington and Jeremy Renner interact with the likes of breakouts like Challengers star Josh O’Connor and Civil War’s Cailee Spaeny will be so entertaining! And knowing Rian Johnson, he has some surprises up his sleeve that will make this whole collaboration even better and more unpredictable. As the Ray star said:

I agree, I also think it’s going to be “a lot of fun,” and I’m jealous that they all get to live the mystery now, while we have to wait over a year to watch the movie. However, I’ll easily get over that, and I know that the wait for Wake Up Dead Man will be well worth it.

At the moment, Knives Out 3 does not have a release date, however, they are filming it now, and it’s expected to premiere next year. While we wait for more news about this exciting movie and amusing stories about it from Kerry Washington and the cast, you can buy or rent Knives Out on Amazon and stream Glass Onion with a Netflix subscription to dive back into the wildly fun world of Benoit Blanc.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt may have just finished working with Eddie Murphy on Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F., but we already have our sights set on what’s next, and I’m personally hoping that it’s Knives Out 3. The third film in Rian Johnson’s Benoit Blanc series feature the return of Daniel Craig as the Cajun sleuth, and if history repeats itself, Joseph Gordon-Levitt will make a cameo appearance as he did in both 2019’s Knives Out and 2022’s Glass Onion. But what are the chances that Gordon-Levitt could appear in a starring capacity instead of just a small part? I had to find out. 

While at the press junket for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F., I asked Joseph Gordon-Levitt if he’ll have a role beyond a simple cameo in Knives Out 3, officially titled Wake Up Deadman: A Knives Out Mystery, and he told me,

We had to expect that he would dodge such a question, but we were curious how he would dodge it. It seems that he and Rian Johnson are still good friends that have a great deal of respect for one another, and more importantly, Gordon-Levitt didn’t say “no.” So at least there’s that. Thus, my hope is still alive, and I am satisfied with “I don’t know” for now.

This response came after I opened up to Joseph Gordon-Levitt about my love for Rian Johnson’s first film Brick, a neo-noir indie flick that stars Gordon-Levitt as Brendan, a moody outsider who finds himself tied up in the drama of a high school drug ring. Not only is the film one of the best Joseph Gordon-Levitt movies, but it’s also in the best of modern film noir, and it was a career-launcher for Rian Johnson. 

The movie's critical success led to the filmmaker creating The Brothers Bloom, Looper, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and eventually the Knives Out series (and let's not forget the Peacock mystery show Poker Face). At the time Brick got made, Gordon-Levitt was doing a lot of indie films, and one could argue that it was a project that helped pave the way for his mainstream success in recent years. No wonder he went on to say that Brick is “really important to me” during our interview, which you can see in the video at the top of this article.

But it’s not just Brick and Knives Out that features Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as the actor has made an appearance in every single Rian Johnson project – ranging from cameos to top billing. You’ll remember his famously Bruce Willis-y makeup for Looper, you may have heard his voice in The Last Jedi, he voiced the "Hourly Dong" in Glass Onion, and he even took on a front-and-center villainous role in the penultimate episode of Poker Face Season 1. It’s safe to assume that Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be in Wake Up Deadman in some capacity, as there’s no way they’ll break their streak now. We’ll just have to wait and see how large said role will be. 

Given the large, ensemble casts of the first two Knives Out films, there’s been a lot of speculation surrounding who will be appearing in Wake Up Deadman. Based on what we know so far, the cast is looking to be pretty epic. Jeremy Renner is on board after being referenced in Glass Onion (thus, he’ll potentially be playing himself), and he’ll be joined by the likes of Josh Brolin, Cailee Spaeny, Glenn Close and many more. Given that Tom Hardy’s name is still being thrown around as potential casting, it seems they’re nowhere near done filling up the call sheet, and we’ll keep you updated if there’s any more information on Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s potential return to the Rian Johnson-verse.  

While Wake Up Deadman is still in pre-production, you can see Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. on Netflix July 3. Based on what we know about the film, it’s easy to assume we’re in store for a delightful romp. Keep it here at CinemaBlend for news on everything else coming our way on the 2024 movie release schedule. 

Without George Lucas, there would be no Luke Skywalker, no Death Star, no Boba Fett, no Baby Yoda, and the collection of great movies on Disney+ would look vastly different. However, while Lucas is responsible for creating the massively popular franchise set in a galaxy far, far away, there are a handful of others whose names are listed as director for some of the best Star Wars movies.

With the property being as popular as ever, and a few high-profile upcoming Star Wars movies on the way, we decided to take a step back and look at all of the directors who have helped shape the franchise into what we know it as today. With all three sequels from the “Skywalker Saga” and every released standalone movie included, we’ve put together a rather robust list sorted by release date.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

When he sat behind the camera for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, George Lucas was a talented yet relatively unknown director who only had two credits to his name: THX 1138 and American Graffiti. That would soon change upon the May 1977 release of the franchise starter, which propelled Lucas and the film’s cast into superstardom and made him a household name, a distinction that has remained true for nearly 50 years.

Irvin Kershner, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Though very much involved with the story, production, and everything else surrounding Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas passed on the opportunity to direct the film due to not wanting to relive the stress from the first film, per the New York Times. He took a risk and selected Irvin Kershner, best known for films like The Hoodlum Priest, Up the Sandbox, and S*P*Y*S, and it ultimately paid off and gave us one of the best sequels of all time. However, it wasn’t all pleasant for everyone, as Mark Hamill butted heads with Kershner during his first and only Star Wars movie.

Richard Marquand, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi (1983)

When it came to closing the Star Wars trilogy, Lucas selected Richard Marquand to direct Return of the Jedi, who beat out names like Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, and David Cronenberg, per Collider. Marquand would close out the first phase of the franchise with a divisive finale that seems to get much more praise as the years go on.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode I – Phantom Menace (1999)

When it came time for Star Wars to return to the big screen with the long-awaited prequels, George Lucas returned to the director’s chair 20 years after taking a more behind-the-scenes role with The Empire Strikes Back. The result of his return was 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menance, a movie that is not without its shortcomings but also one that gave us the iconic “Duel of the Fates” lightsaber battle.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)

The filmmaker stuck around for the second installment in the “Prequel Trilogy” Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Though fans have started to appreciate the prequels, including the middle chapter, in recent years, this 2002 movie remains a low point for the franchise.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode III -  Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

The “Prequel Trilogy” came to an end in 2005 with Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, which was once again directed by Lucas. Conversations surrounding the film’s legacy have gone in every direction in the nearly 20 years since its release, but there’s no denying that Lucas directed the hell out of the Mustafar duel.

Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Dave Filoni has gone on to be one of the driving forces behind the brand over the years, and it all started with him directing the 2008 animated movie, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The beloved film, which would lead into the the TV series of the same name, took place not long after the events of Attack of the Clones and further expanded the story of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, while also introducing fan-favorites like Ahsoka Tano.

J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

In December 2015, three years after Disney acquired Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens was released into theaters around the world and became a massive box office hit. J.J. Abrams, who became one of the major stakeholders in the property following the acquisition, directed the first live-action Star Wars movie in a decade and kicked off the “Sequel Trilogy” in the process.

Gareth Edwards, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

One year after The Force Awakens made beaucoup money at the box office, Disney released its first anthology film with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Directed by Gareth Edwards, who was hot off of the release of Godzilla two years earlier, told the story of the rebel spies who secured the secret Death Star plans and chronicled the sacrifices they made to save the galaxy.

Rian Johnson, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

Either the most daring or divisive Star Wars movie depending on who you ask, Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi broke from the status quo and offered a fresh take for the galaxy far, far away. There has been talk of Johnson returning to the franchise at some point in the future, but he has been rather busy the past few years with the Knives Out series, including his upcoming Wake Up Dead Man.

Ron Howard, Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

More than 40 years after working with Lucas in American Graffiti, Ron Howard joined the franchise with 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, replacing Phil Lord and Chris Miller in the process. The movie, which saw Alden Ehrenreich take on the role of a young Han Solo, wasn’t well received and is currently the final Star Wars anthology film. 

J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

Colin Trevorrow was supposed to direct the final installment of the “Sequel Trilogy,” which at one point had the working title of Duel of the Fates, but J.J. Abrams ultimately returned to wrap up the Skywalker Saga with The Rise of Skywalker. Though the lowest-ranked live-action Star Wars movie on Rotten Tomatoes, TROS still made a ton of cash at the box office, though there hasn’t been a new theatrical release since its December 2019 debut.

Though there aren’t any Star Wars movies on the 2024 movie schedule, there are some promising series set in the galaxy on the 2024 TV calendar that should hold fans’ attention while we wait. 

Rian Johnson's Knives Out was a massive hit, which inspired it to grow into a full franchise. Both the original and the Glass Onion's cast list were star-studded, and fans are eager to see what ensemble the filmmaker assembles for the threequel Wake Up Dead Man. There are some rumors swirling around about the Knives Out 3 cast, and Tom Hardy recently responded to chatter that he's in the movie.

What we know about Knives Out 3 is limited, but the movie's casting announcements have definitely been thrilling. Filming for Wake Up Dead Man has started, so fans are hoping that an official cast list is released sooner rather than later. Tom Hardy recently spoke to ET Online about the rumors he's in the upcoming whodunnit, he said:

There you have it. While he tried to keep the mystery alive in his final comment, it certainly sounds like the Venom star won't have a major role in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Although it sounds like he would be open to appearing if he actually did get the call from Johnson and company.

A big appeal of Knives Out and its sequel Glass Onion (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription) is that stellar casts that Rian Johnson assembles for each movie. The forthcoming threequel is no exception, with confirmed names including Daniel Craig's return as Benoit Blanc, along with Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, and more. 

Given the title of Wake Up Dead Man, some fans are also theorizing that the third Knives Out movie might be Daniel Craig's last. This is just one possibility at this point, and shows how much fan anticipation is behind the mystery franchise as a whole. That includes rumors about both its cast and its plot. 

As a director, Rian Johnson has been wholly focused on the Knives Out franchise, in addition to the TV series Poker Face (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription).  And as such, his upcoming Star Wars movie has been put on the back burner. Although Johnson does seem like he's still interested.

While Tom Hardy seemingly isn't filming Glass Onion 3, he's got his own threequel coming to theaters shortly. He'll once again reprise his role as Eddie Brock in Venom: The Last Dance, which is expected to be his final bow as the character. But who knows? Maybe he'll end up with a cameo in Rian Johnson's whodunnit after all.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is expected to be released sometime in 2025. In the meantime, check the 2025 movie release dates.

These last few weeks have been exciting for Knives Out fans. The title of the threequel film, Wake Up Dead Man, was recently announced, and people are already trying to speculate what the title could mean for the Benoit Blanc story. There has also been quite a bit of casting news, with stars like Andrew Scott, Josh O’Connor, and Kerry Washington joining Knives Out 3. The cast seems to be getting bigger each day, and casting news yesterday saw Jeremy Renner added to the ensemble. This is an interesting addition too, considering he was a noteable name-drop in Glass Onion. 

Just last week Happy, Sad, Confused podcast host Josh Horowitz asked Renner about his shout-out in Glass Onion and how it came to be. For context, at the end of the murder mystery sequel, Helen (played by Janelle Monáe) fakes her own death using Jeremy Renner-branded hot sauce. The actor explained that he thought the joke was hilarious and even thought about releasing actual hot sauces to help promote the film. This never came to fruition but it was a fun idea. You can see the interview clip below: 

What makes this whole thing even better is when Horowitz says that Renner can never be in a Knives Out movie because he technically exists within the universe. The Avengers alum keeps a great poker face, assuming he knew about his casting at this point, laughing the whole thing off, and even agreeing with the interviewer. Kudos to Renner, for doing a great job navigating the subject and not spoiling any big casting news. 

With this context, however, it does make me wonder how they will balance this Glass Onion reference in the next film. 

They could just completely ignore the irony, not acknowledging the hot sauce moment in Wake Up Dead Man, leaving it as just a fun joke in Glass Onion. Renner also could also play himself, with the hot sauce lore being integral to the plot in Wake Up Dead Man. 

There is also potential in playing around with a twin plotline again, which was a big part of Glass Onion. Jeremy Renner could be playing a Renner brother, who is the actual mastermind behind the hot sauce empire. As goofy as it sounds, if anyone could make it work, it’s Rian Johnson and the Knives Out team. 

We will have to wait and see how this Jeremy Renner situation plays out, considering  Wake Up Dead Man won't be released until 2025. However, it seems like updated information about Knives Out 3 is being released every day, giving fans plenty to be excited about as we wait for another murder mystery. 

The first two films were an absolute blast, even resulting in Oscar nominations and viewership success for both. They were instant crowd-pleasers, and my fingers are crossed that Wake Up Dead Man lives up to the hype. With stars like Jeremy Renner in the mix, it's hard to go wrong. 

While you wait for Wake Up Dead Man to become available for Netflix subscribers, fans can revisit Glass Onion now, as it is currently available on the streamer. For more information on other exciting films landing on the service in the near future, make sure to consult our upcoming Netflix projects guide. 

We officially know that Knives Out 3 is titled Wake Up Dead Man. Obviously, we also know Daniel Craig will be returning as the beloved detective Benoit Blanc and that Rian Johnson is writing and directing the film. However, we have no idea who will make up the cast of their third whodunnit. Considering the legendary cast of Knives Out and the incredible ensemble of Glass Onion, we’re 100% in for a treat. However, while we wait for official casting news, fans are proposing their own dream ensembles, and the movie called them out for being “unhinged.”

Following the Wake Up Dead Man news, fans went crazy on social media sharing their ideal ensembles. So, the film’s official X account posted this:

While unhinged is a fitting adjective for these suggestions, they’re also kind of genius, and I think Rian Johnson should be taking notes as we wait to learn more about Knives Out 3.  

For example, he should really acknowledge Super Yaki's dream cast, which included Willem Dafoe, Regina Hall, Jack Black, and yes, The Muppets. For a while now, dream Knives Out 3 casts have included The Muppets, and I for one, am here for it. @TheHorizoneer is also here for the beloved puppets being part of the mystery as they posted a photo of them with the caption:

Unhinged? Yes, of course. But also, I could 100% see it. 

Other folks chose their casts based on ensembles they just really wanted to see together again. And I gotta say, these are inspired:

• @bigmonkeong wants Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Angourie Rice and Margaret Qualley, AKA the cast of The Nice Guys.
• @_anandamonae wants to reunite the cast of the live-action Scooby-Doo, and who wouldn’t want to see Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. together again?

Some fans had very specific casting in mind. Not only do they know who they want in the movie, but they also know what roles they’d play. 

Personally, I’m kind of hoping @faistclub’s wild idea to cast two of the biggest up-and-coming names as rich siblings ends up in one of Rian Johnson’s whodunnits:

Meanwhile, @colormejorge had a brilliant idea to have Meryl Streep play Benoit’s mother. One of the iconic Glass Onion cameos was Hugh Grant playing Daniel Craig’s character’s partner, and I’d love to meet more of the detective’s loved ones. We know The Devil Wears Prada star thrives in a mystery, because she killed it in Only Murders in the Building and is coming back for another season, so let’s get her involved in another silly whodunnit. 

While all this might be a bit unhinged, it’s also genius and not impossible by any means. Rian Johnson and his team have managed to defy casting expectations in both Knives Out mysteries by casting massive A-listers – like Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Dave Bautista and Kate Hudson – and rising stars – like LaKeith Stanfield, Ana de Armas and Madelyn Cline. I expect Wake Up Dead Man to have an equally impressive and unexpected cast. 

However, while we wait for official news on that front, I’ll be enjoying these “unhinged” ideas and rewatching Glass Onion with a Netflix subscription. 

One of the most highly anticipated book-to-screen adaptations of 2024 arrived this month, along with some otherworldly visitors, as David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’ sci-fi saga 3 Body Problem debuted for streaming audiences with Netflix subscriptions. The new show earned a barrage of mixed reviews from critics, and while CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell said it will reward viewers’ patience and curiosity, it’s clear that this series’ initial season fell short of earning the same kinds of acclaim that the first batch of Game of Thrones eps earned when they hit HBO back in 2011.

Someone who found 3 Body Problem to be a big winner right out the gate, however, is a director who’s pretty well-versed in the science fiction genre, Rian Johnson. The filmmaker delivered arguably the most polarizing Star Wars chapter to date, Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, and preceded that with the awesome time-traveling shenanigans of Looper. Johnson took to X to share his recommendation, saying:

I can’t imagine even the most critical viewers of 3 Body Problem could argue against the idea that the show goes to some wild places, both literally and figuratively. The dual-timeline narrative centers in part on the brilliant astrophysicist Ye Wenjie (Rosaline Chao, Zine Tseng), whose tragic past gives way to a future working at a highly classified military base, where her choices change the course of history and humanity itself.

As Johnson put it, this show’s scale is massive, and brings to life many of the awe-inspiring moments from the first novel in author Liu Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy. And the director offers up his word as a sign of proof that 3 Body Problem is worth the viewing experience. Which may not hold a lot of weight with those who despised The Last Jedi (or even the Knives Out films), but for the swath of sci-fi fans who champion Johnson’s work, that bit of raving might just convince someone to watch who was previously on the fence.

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss landed the 3 Body Problem adaptation back in 2020, more than a year after the heavily criticized final season of Game of Thrones, which furthered the duo’s deviation from the still unfinished source material from George R.R. Martin. Making matters more complicated was the fact that both showrunners were rather open about wanting to move on and away from the epic fantasy, and viewers felt the latter seasons reflected their wandering mindsets. 

So it’s possible (bordering on likely) that at least some of the viewers and critics streaming 3 Body Problem came into it with GoT on the brain, which may have affected their viewing experiences. But that might not have been an issue for anyone who, say, only watched the very first Thrones season, which is currently still rocking way better numbers than Netflix series’s debut.

At the moment, 3 Body Problem is sitting well enough, and free from Rotten status, with an average critic score of 76%, while the audience average is slightly lower at 72%. Meanwhile, Game of Thrones’ first season is still holding strong to its 90% critics score, while more than 5,000 viewers have pushed for its audience score to top out at 96%. 

As such, Benioff and Weiss’ show may need another season to potentially get closer to their previous critical heights with the Lanniesters and Starks. Whether that season will get ordered or not no doubt depends on how long 3 Body Problem can bury itself within the streaming service’s Top 10 rankings. It’s been steady in the #2 slot, but that probably won’t be good enough unless it remains there for months on end.

The co-creators knew the pressure was on when it came to following up Game of Thrones, and the scope of 3 Body Problem certainly reflects that. Will audiences be kinder to this sci-fi show than they were the latter days in Westeros or Rian Johnson’s chapter in the Skywalker Saga? If only there was a way to ask ourselves in the future.

Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Edward Norton, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kate Hudson, LaKeith Stanfield, Madelyn Cline, Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista – all those folks have appeared in a Knives Out mystery by Rian Johnson, and that’s not even scratching the surface of the A+ Knives Out cast and Glass Onion ensemble. Well, now that we know a third installment in Benoit Blanc’s whodunnit series will go into production soon, fans are throwing all their casting ideas on social media. And I sure hope the writer/director is taking notes, because these are brilliant. 

Knives Out 3 is set to go into production later this year, meaning we’ll likely find out who will make up its cast soon-ish. Between Rian Johnson’s first two films starring Daniel Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc and his Natasha Lyonne-led series Poker Face, he’s proven over and over again that he knows how to assemble an epic cast. Therefore, fans are expecting a list of greats to make up the ensemble of the third Knives Out mystery, and they have some brilliant ideas, like @tedsbecca who is campaigning for James Marsden:

James Marsden – who received an Emmy nomination for Jury Duty – is such a fabulous actor who is genuinely hilarious, and I think he’d fit in perfectly to this wacky world of mystery.

Sticking to the world of comedy, @ZoeRoseBryant called out an actress that I think many would love to see in a Rian Johnson whodunnit, posting:

The Knives Out movies always feature extremely talented up-and-coming actors – like Ana de Armas and Madelyn Cline. Considering Edebiri’s background in comedy as well as her recent rise because of her work on The Bear, audiences would be thrilled to see her in one of these movies, myself included. 

Meanwhile, @CoyJandreau was looking back at other iconic mystery movies for his dream cast. Considering we sadly might never get a Nice Guys sequel, I’m 100% on board with him fan-casting Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in Knives Out 3:

When it comes to @heyitsjennalynn’s take, she noted that she’s willing to die on the hill of getting 2023 Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan into the threequel, and I would die on that hill too:

There were also some fun unconventional picks for Knives Out 3 ensemble members. However, considering Stephen Sondheim and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made cameos at the same time in Glass Onion, nothing is impossible. So, @hpeeryhorton, I hope your dream comes true:

People really have some brilliant and unique ideas for the Knives Out 3 cast, and I’m so here for them. Along with the fun ones highlighted above, here are a few more fun requests for the Oscar-nominated writer:

• Zendaya , Sarah Drew, Sofia Vergara ans Viola Davis. i mean....The power!! -@BellamyKeppner 
• Funny Adam Driver would be top tier -@eva_kirby21 
• here’s how I get Pedro [Pascal] and Kieran [Culkin] in a movie together, walk with me here -@sottgoods 
• Aubrey Plaza and Jenna Ortega! They would be amazing together. 🤣 -@imtiffanyblair 
• Jennifer Lawrence would be PERFECT in a film like this -@_Syncopy_ 
• I'm here to spread the Sam Rockwell for Knives Out 3 agenda again -@NeonTravesty 

Really, the possibilities are endless, and I can’t wait to see the cast Rian Johnson assembles for his next Knives Out mystery.

It seems highly unlikely that the third Benoit Blanc whodunnit will premiere on the 2024 movie schedule since reports say it will go into production toward the end of this year. However, I suspect that we’ll learn about who ends up in the film as it starts to shoot, and hopefully, some of the names mentioned above will be part of it. 

One of the fun parts of this job is when you read news that is only tangentially related to a thing that you care about, and discover something that you didn’t know that gets you going. I am a big Rian Johnson fan, so I am of course, interested in whatever is going on with his production company, T Street. The studio recently added a new producer, which is cool. But the reason it’s potentially important to fans of Rian Johnson movies is that it’s happening ahead of Knives Out 3, which is looking to go into production this year.

Following the smashing success of Knives Out, Rian Johnson made a deal with Netflix to produce two sequels with Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery arrived in 2022, but we haven’t heard much about the third installment yet. However Deadline, in a story announcing that producer Katie McNeill is joining T Street, says that the studio is “gearing up to make” the third movie “later this year.”

Glass Onion saw a brief November theatrical release ahead of dropping in December on Netflix, so there’s a good chance the third installment could see a similar release schedule. If the movie is looking to start shooting later this year it means we could see it open at the end of 2025, which is still two years away, and much further than I’d like, but it’s a lot closer than it was now that we have a rough timeline, rather than nothing at all.

If filming is looking to get started this year then that means Rian Johnson has written a script that he’d be happy with, or at least expects to have it ready in the short term. Rian Johnson was still writing the Knives Out 3 script a year ago, but last year’s writer’s strike stalled the new Knives Out film as he couldn’t work on it during the several-month period the strike was going on. The strike pushed back many projects significantly. 

We can then expect a cavalcade of casting announcements as Daniel Craig is the only actor expected to return from the previous films. Both previous entries have seen the cast filled out with a who’s who of major names. Finding out who will be in this new film will be quite fun. 

At this point, Knives Out 3 details are few. All we know is that Daniel Craig will be back and that the movie will not be called Knives Out 3. The third film could contain the same A Knives Out Mystery subtitle as the last movie. While the subtitle helped direct the potential audience to the movie on Netflix, Rian Johnson said he hated not simply calling the film Glass Onion, so we’ll see who has won that battle when the movie eventually arrives.  

Neither Daniel Craig nor Rian Johnson have anything on the 2024 movie release schedule, and while Johnson is likely working on Poker Face Season 2, alongside Knives Out 3, it would seem their schedules will be pretty open to jump into the film as soon as it's ready to start shooting.  

Some filmmakers require time to find their voice. They have to make a few simply "ok" features before having the skills required to make their masterpiece. But that's not the case with the directors featured on this list. These folks quickly figured out what they could do with a camera, and they produced magic with their first feature.

It's a terribly hard thing to do, but here are 32 directors who made great films on their very first try.

Orson Welles – Citizen Kane

A lot of incredible films are highlighted on this list, but Citizen Kane is special given that in addition to being Orson Welles’ first feature, it’s considered by many to be the greatest movie all time. The hunt for the meaning behind a publishing titan’s last word is endlessly compelling and a fascinating examination of the soul corruption that comes with a rise to power.

Quentin Tarantino – Reservoir Dogs

Before making modern and instant classics like Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, the legend of Quentin Tarantino began with the phenomenal Reservoir Dogs. The sharp dialogue, the non-linear storytelling, the tense violence and the needle-drop centric soundtrack all instantly confirmed that Tarantino was a talent to watch.

Jordan Peele – Get Out

It came as a shock when comedian Jordan Peele announced that he was shifting to a new phase of his career, as he wanted to pursue his true passion: directing horror movies. It was hard to know what to make of the decision at the time, but Peele has since established himself as one of the industry’s greatest genre filmmakers, and it all started with the stunning Get Out. It’s scary, layered, and the big third act twist never loses its impact.

Spike Jonze – Being John Malkovich

Spike Jonze wasn’t exactly inexperienced when he took the helm of Being John Malkovich as his first feature, as he had established himself as a genius talent in the world of music videos, but that doesn’t take anything away from his accomplishments. It’s a wild, strange, and perfect execution of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman’s genius and cerebral script, and both the design and cinematography make it unforgettable.

Sidney Lumet – 12 Angry Men

It requires incredible skill to direct a film that almost entirely takes place in a single room and juggles 12 different characters with different perspectives… but there’s a reason why Sidney Lumet is considered one of history’s greatest filmmakers. The basic description of 12 Angry Men doesn’t sound particularly cinematic, but it grips you from the start, and keeps you fascinated throughout – particularly thanks to one of Henry Fonda’s greatest performances.

Joel & Ethan Coen – Blood Simple

Joel and Ethan Coen are masters of crime fiction, and they proved that instantly in the start of their careers as feature filmmakers. Blood Simple is a tense neo-noir that comes with all of the trimmings of the genre – from the chiaroscuro lighting to a brilliant femme fatale turn from Frances McDormand – and M. Emmett Walsh is a force as the relentless Loren Visser.

Rob Reiner – This Is Spinal Tap

Few filmmakers have had runs like what Rob Reiner accomplished in the 1980s/1990s, sequentially making Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery and A Few Good Men, but his genius as a director was first established with 1984’s This Is Spinal Tap: a hilarious rock n’ roll mockumentary widely considered to be one of the greatest comedies of all time.

Sam Raimi – The Evil Dead

In the late 1970s/early 1980s, Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell were college students determined to make their first ever feature, and traveled from Michigan to a dilapidated cabin in Tennessee to make The Evil Dead. The production of the film was an absolute nightmare, but the juice was very much worth the squeeze, as the movie exists as a testament to brilliant imagination, and it is an important classic in the history of the horror genre.

Frank Darabont – The Shawshank Redemption

After writing a brilliant adaptation of Stephen King’s novella “Rita Hayworth And Shawshank Redemption,” Frank Darabont actually took a major pay cut so that Castle Rock Entertainment would allow him to make The Shawshank Redemption his directorial debut. This turned out to be a legendary move that has cemented Darabont in cinematic history, as the movie is one of the most beloved of all time and an antidote to cynicism.

John Singleton - Boyz n The Hood

With his directorial debut, John Singleton captured the perspective of an underrepresented audience on the big screen – crafting a Stand By Me-esque coming-of-age story about life in south central Los Angeles. In one of his earliest roles, Cuba Gooding Jr. demonstrates incredible talent alongside Ice Cube and Morris Chestnut, but it’s Laurence Fishburne’s Furious Styles for which the film will always be remembered.

Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman

Emerald Fennell made quite an impression in 2020 with the debut of Promising Young Woman – a primal scream of a movie that captures the horrors that women experience in our modern world and comes together as a darkly comedic revenge thriller. Carey Mulligan’s performance is wicked, and it sports a finale that leaves the audience breathless and mind-blown.

Dan Gilroy – Nightcrawler

Jake Gyllenhaal is unquestionably one of the greatest actors of his generation, and Nightcrawler sees him let off the leash to showcase his phenomenal cinematic presence. Dan Gilroy was an experienced screenwriter prior to making his directorial debut, and one can understand why he wanted to make this movie himself: it’s a vicious, Taxi Driver-esque look at crime scene videography and a stunning and cutting commentary on “if it bleeds, it leads” culture in local journalism.

George A. Romero – Night Of The Living Dead

There aren’t exactly a lot of filmmakers who successfully launched an entire new subgenre with their first feature, but that’s exactly what George A. Romero did with Night Of The Living Dead. The zombie film was a shocking standout upon its original release – featuring a Black actor as its lead and a series of nightmarish scenes of horror – and its genius is no less apparent today.

Rian Johnson – Brick

Long before wowing us with his ensemble-driven Benoit Blanc mysteries Knives Out and Glass Onion, Rian Johnson stunned cinephiles as a first-time director with Brick. It’s a stylized neo-noir that stands out with its high school backdrop and young characters, and it dazzles with unyielding tension, unique dialogue, and a terrific third act reveal.

Tom Hanks – That Thing You Do!

Admit it: even just seeing the title of That Thing You Do! has immediately gotten the eponymous song stuck in your head. But on top of that track being two minutes and 50 seconds of peppy greatness, the film is a fantastic tale about a one hit wonder that pops thanks to Tom Hanks’ excellent direction and a delightful ensemble cast.

David Lynch – Eraserhead

It didn’t take long for David Lynch to tell cinephiles what he is all about. The auteur filmmaker established his nightmarish, cerebral sensibilities from the get-go with Eraserhead – which is a confident work from the first time director and paved the road for further masterpieces like Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks.

Amy Heckerling – Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Amy Heckerling would easily be in the Coming-Of-Age Movie Hall Of Fame if Clueless were the only film on her filmography, but it was 13 years earlier that she made one of the genre’s all-time greatest titles as her directorial debut: Fast Times At Ridgemont High. There is so much to love about this film, from the radical Jeff Spicoli, to the drama of the relationship between Stacy and Mark, to the sounds of The Cars’ “Living In Stereo.”

Destin Daniel Cretton – Short Term 12

It’s a remarkable thing when a film, a series of images mixed with sound rapidly displayed to show movement, can touch your soul, but that’s something that Destin Daniel Cretton’s powerful directorial debut does – centering on the staff of a residential treatment facility. In retrospect, the ensemble cast in this one is beyond outstanding (including Brie Larson, Kaitlyn Dever, Rami Malek, LaKeith Stanfield, and Stephanie Beatriz), and their talents are on full display.

Patty Jenkins – Monster

Patty Jenkins’ directorial debut, Monster, is far from a fun cinematic experience, and one actually feels compelled to take a shower after watching it, but it’s a riveting work. Charlize Theron delivers what is arguably the best performance of her career and earned her Academy Award.

Josh & Benny Safdie - Good Time

Cinephiles were thrilled to discover the cinematic heart attack that is Josh and Benny Safdie’s Uncut Gems in 2019, but anyone who watched the brothers’ directorial debut was at the very least mentally prepared for the experience. Starring Robert Pattinson, Good Time is a deeply stressful crime film that comes packed with touches of Of Mice And Men, and it leaves a deep impression on whoever watches it.

Darren Aronofsky – Pi

Darren Aronofsky has a gift for making movies that makes you want to curl up in a ball and cry (see: Requiem For A Dream, Black Swan, mother!), and it’s a mode he hasn’t diverted from since making his feature debut with Pi. It’s a stylistic story of obsession and has one of the most upsetting endings of all time.

John Huston - The Maltese Falcon

There are some films that are held up as the true classics of classic film noir, and right alongside Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, Bill Wilder’s Double Indemnity and Carol Reed’s The Third Man is John Huston’s phenomenal The Maltese Falcon. Humphrey Bogart’s Sam Spade is an icon of detective fiction, and the twists and turns of the mystery feel as fresh today as ever.

Ari Aster - Hereditary

Ari Aster has quickly become one of the most exciting modern filmmakers making original horror, and that’s in part because audiences are still experiencing nightmares from his directorial debut. A look at both generational trauma and grief, Hereditary is a movie so scary that it would make you feel cold if you were in the middle of the desert, and has more than a few images that end up tattooed on the back of your eyelids as you try to go to sleep at night.

Michael Mann - Thief

Nobody makes crime movies like Michael Mann, and it all started with Thief. It’s a thrilling and captivating look at a talented Chicago criminal who is looking for his way into legitimacy and finds himself fighting forces that try and drag him back into his shady business. The movie features one of James Caan’s best performances, and the talented ensemble includes Jim Belishi, Dennis Farina and Willie Nelson.

Francois Truffaut - The 400 Blows

Valued as an important part of cinema history and the French New Wave, Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows is a powerful coming-of-age story starring Jean-Pierre Léaud as Antoine Doinel, a troubled youth who ends up quitting school and turning to thievery, only to be apprehended and thrown in a juvenile detention center. Truffaut is recognized for having created some of the most beautiful films to ever be produced in France, and it all started here.

Jean Luc Goddard - Breathless

Another evocative title that emerged from the French New Wave, Jean Luc Goddard’s Breathless is a visually stunning work of crime and love, with tremendous cinematic innovation, attitude that bleeds off the screen, and an outstanding performance from star Jean-Paul Belmondo in his breakout role.

Barry Jenkins – Medicine For Melancholy

Barry Jenkins first earned widespread acclaim in 2016 for his film Moonlight (which deservingly won Best Picture at the Academy Awards), but not to be slept on is the debut feature he made eight years earlier: Medicine For Melancholy. Starring Wyatt Cenac and Tracey Heggins and set over the course of a single day, it’s a beautiful and emotional romantic drama.

Steven Soderbergh - Sex, Lies, And Videotape

Steven Soderbergh is now recognized as one of the most talented, eclectic filmmakers in cinema, but it all started with Sex, Lies And Videotape – a fascinating romantic drama with brilliant meta levels examining intimacy via camera.

George Miller – Mad Max

Many genre classics have been covered in this list, and now it’s time to dive into one of the greatest action/adventure films of all time. With Mad Max, George Miller takes us to an unnerving not-to-distant future full of violence and chaos, and his unique skills as a filmmaker capturing all that wildness all in camera is what makes this a forever-thrilling experience.

Damien Chazelle – Whiplash

One can read and learn that there is intense competition in performance arts schools, but it’s another thing to live it – and that’s what audiences get to do in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. Miles Teller is brilliant as the determined and talented Andrew Neiman, but it’s the Oscar-winning work of J.K. Simmons that makes this outstanding directorial debut exceptional.

Mel Brooks – The Producers

Every legendary cinematic run has to start somewhere, and for Mel Brooks, it was with the brilliance of The Producers. Long before he was shocking with the world with Blazing Saddles and History Of The World Part I, the brilliant comedian unleashed his tale of a Broadway scheme and the insanity of “Springtime For Hitler.”

Jim Abrahams, David Zucker And Jerry Zucker – Airplane!

In the 1980s/1990s, nobody made spoof movies like Jim Abrahams, David Zucker And Jerry Zucker, and they quickly established their special comedic voice with their directorial debut: Airplane! The insane pacing of the jokes and the sheer ridiculousness of everything make this a movie that threatens to choke you with laughter, and there are so, so many quotable lines – many thanks to the deadpan brilliance of Leslie Nielsen.

This list obviously has the potential to grow forever, and it'll be exciting to see who the next big breakout movie directors are.