Director Rian Johnson Says That He and Daniel Craig Are "Already Starting to Formulate" More KNIVES OUT Sequel Ideas
Director Rian Johnson is about to release his third film in the Knives Out franchise, and with their success and warm reception from fans, the filmmaker sees no end in sight. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery fulfills a two-sequel distribution deal inked by Johnson and Netflix in 2021. The streamer snagged the rights to the series after the original whodunit anthology flick achieved massive critical and commercial success under Lionsgate.
Where the property is headed next is up for discussion, but Johnson made it clear Monday at the Los Angeles premiere of Wake Up Dead Man that he would like to continue expanding the Knives Out universe.
“Creatively, I feel energized after making this one,” Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. “Daniel [Craig] and I are already starting to formulate … what could the next one be if we do another one?”
The two-time Oscar nominee added that he enjoys working with a new ensemble of actors for a totally different story each time he embarks on a Knives Out journey. “I don’t know why I would stop doing it if we could keep making them,” Johnson said.
Daniel Craig’s Detective Benoit Blanc is back on the case in Wake Up Dead Man after a small Catholic church in upstate New York becomes the site of a confounding crime. In addition to Craig, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2019’s Knives Out and 2022’s Glass Onion features franchise newcomers Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny and Daryl McCormack.
Wake Up Dead Man opens November 26th in select theaters and debuts December 12th on Netflix.