Rian Johnson Confirms What’s Next for Knives Out 4 After Three Straight Films
After a polarizing Star Wars chapter, Rian Johnson has cemented his status with Knives Out — and as Wake Up Dead Man nears its global release, he’s already teasing a fourth mystery.
Rian Johnson just did the thing a lot of franchise directors never do: he hit pause. After three Benoit Blanc mysteries in a row, he says his next project will not be another Knives Out. He isn’t bailing on the series, he just wants to step away long enough to keep it fresh. Honestly, that sounds smart.
What he said (and what it means)
Ahead of the global rollout of his third Blanc movie, 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,' Johnson told Deadline he’s currently writing something completely different — an original, not a Blanc case — and that after making three back-to-back, it’s healthy to, in his words, see other people. That’s filmmaker-speak for: I love this, but I don’t want to burn it out.
He doubled down on the long game at the BFI London Film Festival, making it clear he’s not closing the door on Benoit Blanc or Daniel Craig.
'So as long as audiences want to keep seeing it, and Daniel and I are still having fun making them and still feel like we can come up with stuff that feels not just fresh, but a fresh challenge for us, I think that’ll translate to a new experience for the audience.'
Translation: Johnson’s stepping away next, not forever.
Why the break is actually good news
Mystery series live or die on surprise and precision. Benoit Blanc has already drifted into that rare air with the likes of Poirot and Holmes — instantly recognizable, instantly meme-able, and one weird vowel away from a new accent. That’s exactly the point where fatigue can set in for a writer-director. Johnson taking a breather before he starts repeating himself is the grown-up move. Quantity ruins quality; looking at you, certain cinematic universes.
The Benoit Blanc scorecard (so far)
- 2019: 'Knives Out' — Theatrical release, breakout hit, introduced Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc alongside Ana de Armas and a killer ensemble. Worldwide box office was about $312 million. Produced by T-Street Productions.
- 2022: 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery' — Netflix-backed sequel with a limited theatrical run (roughly $13 million reported from that window), then straight to streaming. Co-stars included Edward Norton and Dave Bautista. Also T-Street.
- 2025: 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' — Daniel Craig returns. Releasing November 26, 2025 in select US theaters, with a global push around it. T-Street remains on board.
The bigger picture
Yes, Johnson still gets heat from a chunk of Star Wars fandom over 'The Last Jedi,' but it’s the Knives Out universe where he’s carved out his sweet spot. Taking a lap to make something original and then circling back when he’s got a new angle for Blanc? That’s how you keep a franchise from going stale.
Would you rather get a new Blanc mystery sooner, or wait a bit for one that feels truly new? I’m siding with 'wait for the good stuff.'