Rian Johnson Welcomes Meryl Streep to the ‘Knives Out’ Universe, Believing She’d Fit Perfectly in a Murder Mystery
Director Rian Johnson, known for his work in the Benoit Blanc/Knives Out universe, has identified one acclaimed actress he hopes to collaborate with: Meryl Streep.
In a recent interview with IndieWire, the Academy Award nominee remarked, “There are so many great actors I’d like to work with. But, yes, if you’re reading this, Meryl Streep, I feel like you’d slot into a murder mystery very well.”
Johnson referenced Streep’s recent appearance on the 50th season of Saturday Night Live, saying, “If Lorne [Michaels] can do it, then, goddamn, so can we.”
Streep, who has an extensive filmography, has already made her mark in the comedic murder-mystery genre with Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, which recently completed its fifth season. She is also set to reprise her iconic role as Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada in the film’s upcoming 2026 sequel.
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During the interview, Johnson expressed his passion for creating the Knives Out films, which began with the hugely popular release in 2019. “I love working with actors so much,” he stated. “There are so many actors I haven’t worked with I want to work with. And that’s one of the real treats of making these movies is you get to experience new actors and these big casts. At the same time, I’d be lying if I didn’t say: one of the great things about doing these movies is I get to know these actors so, when I’m writing original stuff now, that are not these movies, of course I have everyone in mind for it.”
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery marks the third installment in the acclaimed film series, featuring an impressive cast including Josh Brolin, Josh O’Connor, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close, and Thomas Haden Church. In this chapter, Blanc (Daniel Craig) travels to an upstate New York town to investigate the murder of a domineering monsignor, played by Brolin.
The film, which combines Gothic elements with dark satire, debuted in select theaters ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and is set for a broader release on Netflix on December 12. To date, its box office earnings have surpassed $4 million, bolstered by positive reviews from both critics and audiences.
