Rian Johnson Taking a Break from the KNIVES OUT Universe to Write an Original Script

Rian Johnson is stepping away from the Knives Out franchise, at least for a little while. The filmmaker revealed during Deadline’s Contenders London event that his next project won’t feature Benoit Blanc or another elaborate murder mystery for Netflix. Instead, he’s turning his creative energy toward something entirely new.

“I’m writing right now, [but] it’s not one of these [Knives Out] films. It’s just something completely different, an original thing. I actually feel very energized after making this one [Wake Up Dead Man], but this is three in a row. It’s probably healthy to see other people.”

Johnson is promoting Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third chapter in his stylish detective series. Although he’s temporarily setting the franchise aside, Johnson made it clear that he’s still enthusiastic about returning to it in the future.

“I actually feel very energized after making this one,” he said, describing the creative satisfaction of completing his latest entry. Still, after crafting three Knives Out stories in succession, Johnson is ready to explore something fresh before circling back to the world of Benoit Blanc.

Johnson didn’t share any details about his new original project or whether it will stay under the Netflix banner. The filmmaker famously signed a two-film deal with the streamer after the success of the first Knives Out film in 2019, which became a breakout hit for both Johnson and Daniel Craig.

Johnson also shared what makes Wake Up Dead Man stand apart, saying:

“The reality of this movie, it has almost like a more traditional murder mystery structure. This is how most Agatha Christie books work, where in the first act you meet all the suspects, you meet the protagonist, who’s not the detective. Then the murder happens, and the detective shows up.”

This time around, the mystery takes a darker, more gothic turn. The story introduces Josh O’Connor as Jud Duplencity, a priest stationed in a remote area of Upstate New York, who becomes a key ally to Blanc as they unravel a mystery filled with religious symbolism and Edgar Allan Poe-inspired atmosphere.

O’Connor had nothing but praise for working with Craig, calling the experience both inspiring and hilarious. “He’s so willing to give his skill away,” O’Connor said, adding that Craig is “incredibly cheeky” on set and “a bit of a goofball.”

While Wake Up Dead Man will continue to build on the wildly successful Knives Out universe, it makes sense that Johnson would want to take a break from it and do something different and fresh. It’ll be interesting to see what his next project ends up being.