Rian Johnson Wants to Keep Making ‘Knives Out’ With Daniel Craig

Director Rian Johnson expresses willingness to carry on with the Knives Out series, provided that Daniel Craig remains interested in participating.

The 51-year-old director has been in charge of the murder mystery series featuring Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc since its launch in 2019, and Johnson has expressed his eagerness to carry on this franchise beyond the upcoming movie “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery“, as long as both the former James Bond actor is content to keep producing them and he can discover engaging and thrilling stories.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, when I inquired about potential new Knives Out films with the director himself, he shared that so long as Daniel remains eager to continue the journey and we stumble upon an idea that stirs our creative juices rather than just another assembly line project, it needs to be something that makes us think, “Wow, could we actually pull this off? It’s thrilling and terrifying all at once!

I adore this type of literature; its versatility means endless creative opportunities. Yet, I’ve penned three pieces within this genre consecutively. Amazingly, I’m not tired of it, but the next story idea buzzing in my mind is something entirely original – it’s not a mystery at all.

In a recent statement, the director of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” pointed out that the mystery genre stands apart because it blends seamlessly with numerous other genres.

He mentioned that the genre he’s referring to is completely distinct. What he admires about mystery novels is their ability to keep the audience guessing with the ‘whodunit’. Similar to science fiction, the mystery genre includes a wide variety of sub-genres.

Regarding the upcoming movie “Wake Up Dead Man,” following “Glass Onion” in 2022, Johnson hinted that this new whodunnit would offer a distinctly different experience compared to its predecessor.

He stated: “Wake Up Sleeping Man, the upcoming film, is a stark contrast to Glass Onion. It’s more like comparing night to day. So, continuing to create such differences keeps things intriguing.

Awaken for the Dead Man: The Knives Out Enigma”

This captivating story sees Craig, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, Glenn Close, and Andrew Scott in action. The plot revolves around Benoit Blanc as he embarks on his deadliest case investigation yet.

10 Successful Movies That Could Have Gotten a Sequel, But Didn’t

1. The Dark Crystal (1982)

Picture yourself crafting an entire universe teeming with elaborate mythology, diverse characters each uniquely designed visually, and then visiting this fantastical realm just once. For a while, that was the case with ‘The Dark Crystal’, the iconic collaboration between Jim Henson and Frank Oz, which unveiled the mystifying planet Thra and its myriad creepy creatures to the world. Despite its somber atmosphere and intricate plot, which defied expectations for a film featuring puppets, ‘The Dark Crystal’ faced initial skepticism but ultimately outperformed forecasts at the box office and swiftly transformed into a cult favorite. The visual style of this movie is so iconic and distinct that numerous sequel and prequel novels and comics were published years later (even a series of books based on the discarded sequel ideas), and a prequel series streamed for one season on Netflix in 2019.

2. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t forget the magical impact “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” had on me and the entire film industry back in the day. It was this groundbreaking masterpiece that reigned supreme at the box office until another Steven Spielberg creation outshone it. The heartwarming tale of a boy and his alien companion resonated deeply with audiences worldwide, leaving us both uplifted and teary-eyed. This film, universally hailed by critics and viewers alike, made its $10 million budget back within the first week of release!

The thought of an “E.T.” sequel had studio executives dreaming of dollar signs, but Spielberg, along with screenwriter Melissa Mathison, penned a treatment for it called “E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears”. This story revolved around Elliott and his friends getting abducted by malevolent aliens, needing E.T.’s help to escape. However, Spielberg wisely decided against making the sequel, stating that it would only tarnish the original’s innocence and purity. So, it seems E.T. won’t be embarking on any new adventures this time around.

3. The Fifth Element (1997)

Either you’re a fan of Luc Besson’s vibrant space epic, The Fifth Element, or you strongly dislike it – perhaps explaining why Besson and team never revisited 23rd century New York City with Korben Dallas and Leeloo. This film garnered recognition from esteemed awarding bodies such as the British Academy Film Awards, César Awards, Cannes Film Festival, and Lumières Awards, but also received nominations for Razzies and Stinkers in the same year. Therefore, it’s hard to say what the general consensus is.

Despite this, The Fifth Element boasts a dedicated fanbase whose appreciation for the film has grown with time. As modern sci-fi blockbusters tend to follow a similar pattern and lack originality, perhaps by the 23rd century we’ll all come to a mutual agreement on whether it’s truly good or not.

4. Elf (2003)

The iconic holiday movie “Elf,” starring Will Ferrell, remains a fan favorite and commercial success despite never receiving an official follow-up. Known for lines like “You sit on a throne of lies!” and the unusual idea of maple syrup-soaked spaghetti, this film is ubiquitous on cable during December. Given its financial success, a sequel might seem unnecessary. However, initial plans for a second installment, titled “Elf 2: Buddy Saves Christmas,” were discussed by director Jon Favreau. Unfortunately, Ferrell expressed little interest in making sequels, which makes it doubtful that we’ll ever see another “Elf” movie due to the central role played by the title character.

5. Ratatouille (2007)

It’s been quite some time since animated films are usually produced, yet one would expect rumors about a new Ratatouille movie to circulate by now. After all, it’s among the few popular Pixar movies that haven’t received a sequel (with A Bug’s Life, WALL-E, and Up being part of this group). Given its widespread adoration, it seems somewhat astonishing that the studio hasn’t revisited this beloved film. In fact, they even granted director Brad Bird the opportunity to create another Incredibles movie!

Critically acclaimed upon release, it won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature that year and outlasted Titanic with the longest consecutive run atop the French box office. During the Covid-19 pandemic, an unauthorized musical adaptation emerged, featuring Titus Burgess, Adam Lambert, and Wayne Brady as its stars.

Animated films typically take a long time to produce, but it seems odd that there hasn’t been any news about a Ratatouille sequel considering its popularity among Pixar movies (alongside A Bug’s Life, WALL-E, and Up). The film’s enduring appeal is so strong that it’s surprising the studio has yet to revisit this beloved movie. Interestingly, director Brad Bird was given the chance to create another Incredibles movie!

Upon its release, Ratatouille received critical acclaim and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature that year. It also held the top spot at the French box office longer than Titanic did. During the Covid-19 pandemic, an unauthorized musical adaptation was made, starring Titus Burgess, Adam Lambert, and Wayne Brady.

6. Wanted (2008)

Prior to the emergence of John Wick, there was the action film titled “Wanted”, directed by Timur Bekmambetov. This movie centers around an ordinary man who discovers he possesses extraordinary abilities when it comes to handling adrenaline, leading him to join a covert group of assassins that maintain global balance by eliminating dangerous individuals. The film was a box office hit, breaking several records for R-rated movies, and received both praise and criticism from critics and audiences alike (though some found it polarizing, particularly with its highly stylized nature). Despite discussions about a sequel or prequel to the Mark Millar comic book it originated from, plans for a second movie failed to materialize due to an overabundance of ideas, actors dropping out, and lack of firm commitments. Consequently, Bekmambetov opted to direct “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” instead.

7. District 9 (2009)

Among the 2009 films featuring “9” in their titles (which include the musical drama “Nine” and the animated horror movie “9”), it was “District 9” that proved to be the most successful. This groundbreaking science fiction film centers around a failed alien invasion, where an extraterrestrial spaceship full of aliens found themselves stranded in a makeshift camp outside Johannesburg, South Africa. Directed by Neill Blomkamp, “District 9” was his debut and arguably best work. Rumors of a sequel began swirling even before its release, but as time passes, the likelihood of it being made seems to decrease. The director himself has hinted that it may eventually be produced, but it appears less likely with each passing year.

8. Inception (2010)

Christopher Nolan typically avoids creating sequels for his films, with the exception being the Dark Knight trilogy. However, if Inception were directed by someone else, it likely would have spawned multiple sequels, prequels, and a mediocre television series on streaming platforms by now. Instead, Inception was an unprecedented success upon its release, receiving numerous award nominations, being hailed as one of the best films of the decade, and leaving an indelible mark on pop culture. From Black Eyed Peas and Jennifer Lopez songs to Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift music videos, South Park, Rick and Morty, Simpsons episodes, and numerous popular memes, Inception has inspired a wide range of cultural references. Yet, Nolan had other creative directions he wished to pursue, ensuring that Inception’s originality remains untainted.

9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

In essence, while not featuring the same cast and intended as a fresh start rather than a direct continuation, there is a film that could be considered a sequel to David Fincher’s highly praised adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”. This new film is an adaptation of the fourth book in Stieg Larsson’s crime novel series, but unfortunately, it didn’t rekindle the franchise. Initially, David Fincher had plans for a sequel adaptation of “The Girl Who Played with Fire”, but when these plans fell through, the studio opted for a new director, a new cast, and a different book in the series for their subsequent movie.

10. World War Z (2013)

The movie adaptation of Max Brooks’ novel “World War Z” only covers a small part of the book, and if the studio wanted to, they could make more films based on the remaining content. In fact, in 2019, director David Fincher was planned to direct a second film with Brad Pitt reprising his role. However, the project was eventually cancelled in February 2019, with the main reason being China’s prohibition on movies featuring zombies or ghosts. This might explain why we don’t see many zombie-themed movies anymore, but instead they are more commonly found on TV.

2025-05-02 19:25