Rian Johnson Unveils His Next Movie After Wake Up Dead Man

Rian Johnson is already thinking past Knives Out 3. And no, he is not spinning up another Benoit Blanc mystery right away. He wants to zag into a different lane first.

What he is cooking up next

In a chat with Empire Magazine, Johnson said the movie he plans to make after Wake Up Dead Man is not a Knives Out follow-up. He is switching genres and going moodier, more paranoid, and a little nerdy in the best way.

"If I had to define it genre-wise, I’d say it harkens back to the ’70s paranoid thrillers. It’s got a light sci-fi element to it."

That is a fun pivot for him. Think wiretaps, shadowy conspiracies, and tech that is just left-of-reality. Details beyond that are locked down for now.

Where it might land (and why he cares about theaters)

Johnson made it clear he is very happy with his partnership with Netflix on the Knives Out movies. That said, he hinted this next project may not end up there because he wants a bigger theatrical footprint. He is all-in on the big-screen experience and does not buy into the whole 'theatrical is dead' narrative. He even pointed to this year’s breakout 'Sinners' as proof that something fresh from a rising filmmaker can still push audiences to leave the couch and go to the theater. Translation: expect him to court a wider theatrical rollout for this one.

Meanwhile, Wake Up Dead Man is almost here

Knives Out 3 — officially titled 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' — premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and earned overwhelmingly positive reviews. If you are planning your watch:

• Select theaters: November 26
• Streaming on Netflix: December 12

So the timeline is simple: Benoit Blanc first, paranoid sci-fi thriller next. And if Johnson gets his way, you will be seeing that new one on the biggest screen you can find.