Rian Johnson All But Confirms Knives Out 4 — Ahead Of Wake Up Dead Man's Release

Rian Johnson is not done with Benoit Blanc. Even before Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery hits theaters next year, he and Daniel Craig are already tossing around ideas for a fourth outing. The headline here is less about plot and more about the business: the current Netflix deal ends with Wake Up Dead Man, which could mean Knives Out 4 gets a full, old-school theatrical rollout.

Johnson and Craig are already thinking about No. 4

Part of why this series keeps humming is Johnson’s approach: every movie is a new mystery with a brand-new ensemble, so there’s no creative rut to fall into. He told THR he’s feeling energized, not exhausted, and he and Craig have started shaping what a fourth film might look like.

'Creatively, I feel energized after making this one. Daniel and I are already starting to formulate... what could the next one be if we do another one?'

The distribution wrinkle that could change everything

Here’s the nerdy business detail that matters: Johnson’s Netflix pact covered two sequels to the 2019 original. That means the deal expires after Wake Up Dead Man. Johnson has been vocal about wanting theatrical runs that feel like the first film’s traditional release, and he’s pushed back on Netflix’s usual limited-theater strategy. If Knives Out 4 lands somewhere other than Netflix, a proper wide theatrical window suddenly becomes very likely.

Also worth noting: even if Netflix stays in the mix, the streamer looks more open to movie theaters than it used to be. Wake Up Dead Man is getting a real theatrical run first, and Netflix is flirting with bigger event-style theatrical plays around things like the Stranger Things finale. In other words, the fourth Knives Out doesn’t have to be trapped in a tiny theatrical footprint.

Johnson says the creative tank is full

Over at Variety, Johnson doubled down on the same point: he’s not burned out, he’s into the challenge of keeping each entry surprising, and as long as audiences show up and he and Craig are having fun, they’ll keep going. That bodes well for a franchise that could easily slide into formula but hasn’t.

• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery hits theaters on November 26, 2025, and arrives on Netflix on December 12, 2025.
• Johnson’s Netflix deal ends with this third film, opening the door for Knives Out 4 to have a full theatrical release, like the 2019 original.
• He told THR he and Daniel Craig are already brainstorming the next one; he also told Variety he feels energized, not burnt out, and wants each film to be a fresh challenge.
• Even if Netflix extends the relationship (early buzz is strong), the streamer is leaning harder into theaters, so a future film likely won’t be stuck with limited screenings.
• Studios would absolutely line up for this series; the movies have been commercially strong despite past limited theatrical runs.