Director Rian Johnson has voiced his desire to cast Meryl Streep in a future Knives Out movie, calling her perfect for the role. He shared these thoughts during a screening event for the franchise's third installment, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, in Los Angeles. Johnson also teased plans for an original sci-fi project as his next endeavor after the Knives Out series.
Event Background
On November 17, 2025, a special screening of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery took place at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, amid a heavy downpour. The film, now playing in limited theaters and streaming on Netflix starting December 12, features Daniel Craig reprising his role as detective Benoit Blanc, alongside a new ensemble cast including Mila Kunis, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Josh O'Connor, Thomas Haden Church, and Daryl McCormack. The story centers on a murder mystery in a small-town Catholic church, exploring themes of faith that resonate personally with Johnson, who grew up religious but no longer identifies as a believer.
Johnson's Future Plans
Johnson told Variety that the Knives Out films feel like a family rather than a traditional franchise, emphasizing the personal emotional depth in Wake Up Dead Man. He confirmed his next project will be an original sci-fi story unrelated to Benoit Blanc, stating, "I had this other idea I’d been cooking for a while, and I thought, ‘Well, I’ve done three of these in a row. I’ll give Daniel a little break from me and go up and do something else.’" Despite this pivot, he remains open to future Knives Out entries and specifically praised Streep: "I feel like Meryl Streep would kill it. She was born to be in one of these movies; she’s hilarious." He noted the challenge of not knowing her personally but received support from cast member Kerry Washington, who co-starred with Streep in 2020's The Prom and offered to vouch for him.
Cast Pitches and Franchise Ideas
Cast members shared enthusiastic ideas for expanding the series. Mila Kunis proposed an 'Avengers'-style crossover with returning stars like Kerry Washington, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Zoe Saldaña. Washington joked about a holiday variety show featuring the ensemble, while Cailee Spaeny suggested Charles Melton and Josh O'Connor recommended Joel Edgerton. Johnson quipped about the anthology format, saying Jamie Lee Curtis would "kill me" if he recast her, adhering to the tradition of new casts per film.
The screening highlighted the film's impact, with composer Nathan Johnson noting it made him cry and Washington calling it the best in the series for its heartfelt resonance.