Knives Out 3’s Biggest Concern Finally Addressed by Rian Johnson

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Rian Johnson, the director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, recently explained that just because three films exist doesn’t automatically mean they form a complete trilogy. He touched on a major concern fans have about the franchise in a recent interview.

At a New York City showing of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, director Rian Johnson explained that the third film in the Daniel Craig series won’t function as a conclusive ending like Return of the Jedi. According to Gold Derby, Johnson told the audience at the Paris Theater that while it is a trilogy, the idea of it being his equivalent to Return of the Jedi was amusing to him.

You know, the director made a really funny point during our chat. He was talking about how everyone wants to see themselves as the heroes, the underdogs, the Rebel Alliance. But he joked that most of us are probably closer to Darth Vader – a little bit on the dark side, maybe! It’s a surprisingly insightful observation about how we view ourselves and the stories we tell.

Look, Rian Johnson didn’t try to make another Star Wars with Knives Out, but I totally get why people are drawing comparisons! He’s clearly a talented filmmaker, and it’s flattering that people see a bit of that Last Jedi magic in his new work. He doesn’t need to be George Lucas, but it’s cool that people are making the connection.

Johnson recalled being the perfect age when Return of the Jedi was released. He remembered a lot of older fans criticizing the Ewoks, but he loved them and didn’t understand the complaints. He even playfully included a few Star Wars nods in his film Wake Up Dead Man.

According to the director, Wake Up Dead Man stands out from previous films because of its focus on religious themes. He mentioned discussing this new direction with Daniel Craig after they finished Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in 2022.

The filmmaker explained that Daniel and they decided to make the next project more realistic and relatable. “We thought it would be fun to ground it a little bit more,” they said about their creative approach.

As a fan, what really grabbed me about this project was how personal it got. He really dug into his own background, specifically his faith. He grew up very Christian, but he’s moved away from that now, and he had a lot of complex emotions to explore. The idea of turning those feelings into a fun, engaging Benoit Blanc mystery just seemed like an awesome challenge – something audiences would really enjoy.

Wake Up Dead Man Continues a Star-Studded Trend

Although the future of the film series is uncertain, Daniel Craig is expected to return as Benoit Blanc in future installments. The director recently explained that he’s currently working on a new, original project, and feels it’s good to explore different ideas after directing three films in a row, including the recent Wake Up Dead Man. He seems energized by the change of pace.

The latest release really went all out. While both Johnson and the cast brought their A-game, the film also features a star-studded ensemble. Like past installments, this one includes many returning actors, as well as several familiar faces from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Alongside Daniel Craig, who returns for this new Knives Out mystery, the cast includes Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Thomas Haden Church, Cailee Spaeny, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Daryl McCormack, and Jeremy Renner.

Wake Up Dead Man is set to hit theaters on Nov. 26 and will head to Netflix on Dec. 12.

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2025-11-05 19:39