Rian Johnson Reveals Wake Up Dead Man as Hardest Script Amid Religious Themes Ahead November Release

Rian Johnson has described "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" as the hardest script he has ever written, attributing the challenge to the film's deeply personal and complex themes surrounding religion and faith. Having grown up with a strong Christian background but no longer being religious, Johnson grappled with his complicated feelings toward faith while crafting a story set around a murder in a church, featuring characters that embody conflicting religious ideals. He spent about eight months developing the screenplay before writing, aiming to explore spirituality honestly without being moralistic or irreverent. The film stars Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc and includes new characters played by Josh Brolin and Josh O’Connor, whose conflicting faith perspectives drive the core conflict. Johnson's intent is for the movie to be engaging and thought-provoking for audiences regardless of their personal beliefs. The film is set for theatrical release followed by streaming on Netflix, and early reviews have been very positive, suggesting it may be the strongest in the series yet.