Knives Out 4 Just Got An Intriguing Update From The Wake Up Dead Man Director
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premieres at the BFI London Film Festival, and even as Rian Johnson touts his most personal case yet, he reveals there are no plans for Knives Out 4—for now.
Rian Johnson just rolled out Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery as the opener at the BFI London Film Festival, called it his most personal movie yet, and then casually said he has no plan for Knives Out 4. Fun!
So, about Knives Out 4...
Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter he does not have anything lined up for a fourth Benoit Blanc case. No outline, no clever murder weapon, not even a working title. He says he likes to drain the tank creatively and only come back when there is a genuinely new angle. Also, any future movies depend on him and Daniel Craig still having a good time making them and audiences still wanting them.
"I got nothing. If you have anything, I’ll take it. I think it’s good to totally empty the well and then start from scratch on the next one."
Translation: there is no grand franchise roadmap, by design. When the spark hits, they will do it. Until then, do not expect a quick turnaround.
What Wake Up Dead Man is actually doing
Johnson keeps calling this one his most personal, and he means it. The movie digs into faith and religion, which he says comes straight out of his own upbringing. That is a surprising lane for a glossy whodunit, but it tracks with how he likes to wrap big ideas in a crowd-pleasing package.
Cast, dates, festivals, the whole picture
- Daniel Craig is back as detective Benoit Blanc, joined by Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Mila Kunis, and Daryl McCormack.
- Limited theatrical run starts November 26, then it streams globally on Netflix December 12.
- The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, then opened the BFI London Film Festival.
- Early reception is strong: it is sitting at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes as of now.
On set vibes (aka the quick temperature check)
Glenn Close called Johnson a great writer and a wonderful director, and Daryl McCormack said Johnson and Craig made the production unusually welcoming. You do not always hear actors talk about warmth on a giant sequel, so that is a nice peek behind the curtain.
Where the franchise stands
Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022) both landed with critics and audiences, which is why Netflix backed this third outing. Wake Up Dead Man looks like it is keeping that streak alive. As for a fourth movie, it is not off the table, it is just not on the table either. Consider it Schrodinger’s Blanc until the next idea hits.