Get ready to dust off your magnifying glass, because Rian Johnson, the mastermind behind the Knives Out franchise, isn’t ready to sheath Benoit Blanc’s detective skills just yet. With Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery set to hit Netflix in fall 2025, Johnson recently opened up about the future of his beloved whodunit series, hinting at more cases for Daniel Craig’s suave Southern sleuth. In interviews with Collider and Business Insider, the director shared his passion for the genre, his conditions for continuing, and why he’s itching to explore new creative avenues before diving back into Blanc’s world. Here’s what Johnson’s teasing about the Knives Out saga—and why fans should stay excited.
A Love for Whodunits Fuels the Franchise
Since Knives Out sliced its way into theaters in 2019, Johnson’s modern take on the murder-mystery genre has been a critical and cultural hit, earning a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination and $312 million at the box office. Its 2022 sequel, Glass Onion, kept the momentum going with a star-studded cast and a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, despite a limited theatrical run. Now, Wake Up Dead Man—featuring Josh Brolin, Cailee Spaeny, Mila Kunis, and more—promises to be Blanc’s “most dangerous case yet,” with a tonal shift that Johnson describes as “night and day” from Glass Onion’s sunny satire.
Speaking to Collider’s Christina Radish while promoting Poker Face Season 2, Johnson revealed that his love for mysteries keeps the Knives Out fire burning. “I love the genre. It’s endlessly malleable, and so it holds endless possibilities,” he said. But he’s not just churning out sequels for the sake of it. Johnson’s condition for more Knives Out films is simple: Daniel Craig must stay on board as Benoit Blanc, and each story needs to feel “genuinely exciting and scary” to pull off. “As long as Daniel still wants to keep doing it and we have an idea that feels not just like cranking another one out, but like, ‘Oh, wow, could we pull that off?’ I’m in,” he told Collider.
Craig, who’s relished playing the ascot-wearing detective after his gritty James Bond years, seems game. In a Variety interview, he said he’d keep returning as long as Johnson’s scripts stay top-notch: “If Rian keeps writing them like that, then yes, I will play it.” With both creator and star aligned, the door for a fourth Knives Out film—or beyond—feels wide open, though Johnson’s not rushing to commit just yet.
A Break for New Horizons
After three Knives Out films in a row, Johnson’s ready to step away from Blanc’s world for a bit. “I don’t feel burnt out on it at all, but the next thing I have in my head to write is an original that’s not a mystery at all. It’s a totally different genre,” he told Collider. This pivot isn’t a farewell to Knives Out but a chance to recharge creatively. Johnson’s past work—like the neo-noir Brick, sci-fi thriller Looper, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi—shows his knack for genre-hopping, and he’s eager to tackle something fresh before circling back to Blanc.
What could this new project be? Johnson’s tight-lipped, but his history suggests it’ll be inventive. He’s also juggling other gigs, including a two-picture deal with Warner Bros. and Poker Face Season 2 on Peacock, which keeps his mystery muscles flexed. This break could benefit Knives Out, giving Johnson time to dream up a bold new case for Blanc. ScreenRant notes that spacing out sequels might prevent franchise fatigue, letting audiences miss Blanc and build anticipation for his return—perhaps as late as 2029.
Theatrical Dreams and Tonal Shifts
One of Johnson’s biggest hopes for Wake Up Dead Man is a wider theatrical release, a sore spot after Glass Onion’s brief 700-screen run. “I want this in as many theaters for as long as possible,” he told Business Insider, pushing back against Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos’ claim that theaters are “outdated.” Citing 2025 box office wins like A Minecraft Movie and Sinners, Johnson believes audiences crave the big-screen experience. “If you put a movie people want to see in theaters, they are going to show up,” he said. Craig echoed this; he was “saddened” by Glass Onion’s limited rollout. A theatrical push could boost Wake Up Dead Man’s impact and set the stage for future films.
As for Wake Up Dead Man itself, Johnson’s promised a drastic departure from Glass Onion’s vibe. “One of the things I love about the mystery genre is that it holds the whodunit but encompasses so many other types of genres,” he told Collider. The film’s title, drawn from a 1997 U2 song and American folk music, hints at a darker, grittier tone, and a graveyard-set BTS photo Johnson shared only fuels that vibe. With a cast including Jeremy Renner as a “proper” character (not just a hot sauce cameo) and Brolin as a priest, expect a fresh batch of eccentric suspects.
A Franchise with Endless Possibilities
Johnson’s vision for Knives Out is less about a fixed endpoint and more about a sandbox of possibilities. He’s toyed with wild ideas, like a Muppets crossover, though he ultimately nixed it as too tricky to balance. His Agatha Christie-inspired approach—each film a standalone with a new case, cast, and setting—keeps the series fresh. Knives Out tackled family greed in a gothic mansion; Glass Onion skewered tech moguls on a Greek island; and Wake Up Dead Man promises a new flavor, possibly exploring Blanc’s personal life, like his relationship with Hugh Grant’s character.
The franchise’s future hinges on Johnson and Craig’s enthusiasm, but Netflix’s role could complicate things. The streamer’s $450 million deal covers only Glass Onion and Wake Up Dead Man, leaving room for Johnson and producer Ram Bergman to shop future films elsewhere if theatrical disputes persist. Deadline reports suggest Glass Onion could’ve earned $600 million in theaters, a missed opportunity that stings. Still, Johnson’s grateful for Netflix’s support, telling Business Insider they’ve been “great partners.”
Why Fans Should Be Excited
Knives Out fans have plenty to look forward to. Wake Up Dead Man—filmed in London and wrapped in summer 2024—boasts a killer cast and a bold new direction. Brolin called working with Johnson “one of the greatest experiences” of his career, and Kerry Washington raved about the ensemble to ScreenRant. Johnson’s tease of more films, as long as Craig’s in and the ideas spark, suggests Blanc’s adventures could stretch well into the next decade. Plus, his detour into a non-mystery project might yield a gem that sharpens his return to whodunits.
Source: Collider, Business Insider
