Rian Johnson Shares Early Thoughts on What Could Be Next for ‘Knives Out 4’
While fans may have to wait several years for detective Benoit Blanc to return in a new murder mystery, filmmaker Rian Johnson is already contemplating the next installment in the Knives Out series.
Following the Netflix release of Wake Up Dead Man—the third chapter in the series that examines the aftermath of the murder of a powerful monsignor in a close-knit New York church—Johnson shared his evolving thoughts on the direction of the whodunit genre.
“I have some basic, elemental, conceptual ideas,” Johnson said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “Like, ‘OK, it’d be interesting if it were this kind of thing’ kernels.”
However, Johnson clarified that he does not yet have any concrete themes or locations figured out. “It’s really pretty vague, and I feel like it’s good to kinda keep it vague until I’m ready to actually sit down and write it,” he explained.
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The previous Knives Out films, notably the 2019 entry featuring Ana de Armas and the 2022 installment Glass Onion, have incorporated comedic elements while offering different cinematic atmospheres. The first film echoed Agatha Christie’s style, while the latter leaned into campy escapism. Johnson noted that Wake Up Dead Man shifts toward a darker, Gothic tone influenced by Edgar Allan Poe.
Furthermore, Johnson emphasized his intention to reflect contemporary cultural sentiments through his films. “Part of making these movies, for me, is reacting to the present moment,” he said. “The vibe check of the United States and the moment that we’re in… I like that these movies are not timeless and that they resonate with our present moment.”
Before diving back into the Knives Out universe, Johnson plans to focus on a standalone film described as a sci-fi homage to 1970s paranoid thrillers.
Released in select theaters on November 26, Wake Up Dead Man, featuring a star-studded cast including Daniel Craig, Josh Brolin, and Josh O’Connor, began streaming on Netflix December 12.
