Rian Johnson, the writer and producer of the Knives Out franchise, has revealed that the third instalment in the Netflix series is closer to an Agatha Christie mystery than previous films.
Speaking at Deadline’s Contenders London event on Saturday, Johnson said Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is more traditional in structure than Glass Onion and Knives Out.
“The reality of this movie, it has almost like a more traditional murder mystery structure,” he explained. “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.”
The third movie in the franchise sees Daniel Craig return to his role of famed private detective Benoit Blanc. He is facing a darker mystery than in films past, with religious intrigue centered around its protagonist, played by Josh O’Connor, and with gothic elements inspired by the classic works of Edgar Allen Poe. O’Connor stars as Jud Duplencity, a priest sent to a remote outpost in Upstate New York, who becomes a kind of sidekick to Blanc in solving the mystery.
Johnson said he felt able to lean into the Christie structure because you can “relax” in the hands of O’Connor, who features heavily in the first act.
O’Connor told the Contenders London event that it was a joy to work with Craig, revealing that the James Bond star is “so willing to give his skill away” as an actor. O’Connor joked, however, that Craig has “goofball” qualities and is “incredibly cheeky” on set.
Producer Ram Bergman said prep work got underway before Johnson had finished the script because the writer had a clear vision of where it would be set. Filming took place in London, with Johnson saying he felt comfortable shooting in the city because of his time on Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi.
“It mostly takes place in an old stone church in a small town. You have more of those here [in the UK] than we had in the States,” Johnson said. “We just kind of fell in love with working with British crews after working here in London.”
Netflix has set a limited theatrical release for November 26, with a streaming date of December 12. The ensemble cast includes Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.
The post ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ Director Rian Johnson Reveals Why Third Film Is Closer To An Agatha Christie Mystery — Contenders London appeared first on Deadline.
