(L to R) Rian Johnson and Josh O’Connor attend Netflix’s ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’ Los Angeles premiere on November 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photograph by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Pictures for Netflix.
‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’ is the third movie within the homicide thriller franchise starring Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc. Moviefone was in attendance at a current press convention that includes author and director Rian Johnson and star Josh O’Connor, the place they mirrored on the making of the film.
“He works in mysterious methods.”
Launch Date: Nov 26, 2025
Run Time: 2 hr 25 min
Finances: $210,000,000
Associated Article: Film Assessment: ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’
1) Rian Johnson Says ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’ Is A Very Private Story
‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’ director Rian Johnson. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.
Rian Johnson was requested if scripting this third movie was simpler now that he already had two below his belt to which he replied no, as a result of it was very private for him.
Rian Johnson: Completely not. That is by far the toughest factor I’ve ever written, truly. This one was powerful. And which means on the tail finish of it, I am simply much more happy with sort of the way it got here out and simply really feel so good about it, however in the course of the course of itself — and it wasn’t essentially as a result of the thriller itself was extra complicated, though it sort of was. It was extra the thematic parts of it. As a result of the film’s about religion. That is one thing that may be very private to me. I grew up very spiritual. I used to be very personally Christian after I was youthful, up via my early 20s. It was only a huge a part of my life. And I’m not a believer anymore.
2) Josh O’Connor Reveals His Religion Helped Him With This Function
Josh O’Connor in ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.
Josh O’Connor talks how he was capable of stroll a advantageous line between comedy and tragedy as a result of his personal religion.
Josh O’Connor: From a sensible sense, this job is the best luxurious and reward to have the ability to do it. I simply need to attempt all the things, and whether or not I am good at it or not typically. However actually, you are ready to do this with somebody like Rian. And, to begin with, the early conversations about religion was an enormous get-in for me. And that was one thing that, like Rian, has been in my thoughts for a very long time. I grew up Irish Catholic and church going, and I feel have fairly a robust religion. It would not essentially have a transparent residence. And so all these questions that Rian was asking had been ever-present in my life. And so I say that to say that, I feel beneath, you’ll be able to dance and do the comedy facet if beneath there’s one thing of a profound fact effervescent beneath that function. And Rian’s so good at bringing these moments out. And it signifies that you’ll be able to dance that advantageous line between comedy and grief and tragedy, which may be very usually the best way.
3) Josh O’Connor Says There Is Nothing Like A ‘Knives Out’ Set
(L to R) Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church, Glenn Shut and Daryl McCormack in ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’. Cr. John Wilson/Netflix © 2025.
Take one have a look at an ensemble solid for a Rian Johnson ‘Knives Out’ film and it’s clear that top-notch actors need to work with him. Josh O’Connor reveals there may be really nothing just like the set of certainly one of these films.
Josh O’Connor: Rian alluded to, and I can vouch for it, Rian’s an actor’s director. And so, a lot of his consideration, which is extraordinary, if you concentrate on it, clearly, the place Rian’s come from and the movies he is come from, he has that in his locker. However while you stroll on a Knives Out set, I imply, the units are extraordinary. The craftspeople are the very best, second to none. And so the dimensions of it’s greater than something I’ve ever accomplished earlier than. And but, the time that Rian offers his actors makes it really feel no totally different to being on set with Kelly Reichardt and simply determining those self same questions of like, what’s stopping Father Jud from getting what he needs? What has he misunderstood? How does he overcome that? There was at some point I used to be sat subsequent to Rian on the monitor, and Rian was utterly entranced. They weren’t filming, however Rian was trying and it was simply Daniel, he had his headphones on, and he was doing his factor. And Rian was simply loving watching Daniel do his factor, stepping into the area.
4) Each ‘Knives Out’ Movie Is Related To The Occasions We Are Dwelling In
(L to R) Josh O’Connor and Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’. Cr. John Wilson/Netflix © 2025.
Rian Johnson thinks that what works so properly about his franchise is that every film is related to the occasions when it comes out. Due to this, he isn’t afraid to dicuss issues like politics and faith.
Rian Johnson: From the primary film, a part of the marching orders I had for myself with these movies, and a part of what makes them thrilling, I really like this style a lot. It is a style, although, that rising up, I feel all of us have principally seen accomplished as interval items, normally set in England, and sort of in timeless little villages or one thing. With the primary film, an enormous realization for me was that is not what Agatha Christie did. She by no means wrote interval items. She was all the time writing to her time and her second. And her books, even later in her profession, that had been written within the 60s are set within the 60s. And in addition, I feel the homicide thriller kind, it is simply, since you’re constructing these suspects, you are constructing this little energy construction throughout the suspects. Somebody on the prime is gonna get killed. It is an effective way of making a microcosm of society. And so it appeared like a really potent instrument to speak about, and hopefully in a enjoyable approach that is nonetheless entertaining, to speak in regards to the current second.
5) Rian Johnson Is Already Working On The Subsequent ‘Knives Out’ Movie
(L to R) Director of Pictures Steve Yedlin and Author/Director Rian Johnson on the set of ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’. Cr. John Wilson/Netflix © 2025.
When requested if there may be potential for one more movie within the franchise, Rian Johnson defined that he’s engaged on one thing else proper now, however that he and Daniel Craig have been discussing Benoit Blanc’s subsequent journey already.
Rian Johnson: I am writing my subsequent movie. It is not certainly one of these, it is one thing authentic. It is not as a result of I am burnt out on these. In reality, I am energized after making this one and I actually hope to return again. I am already considering. Daniel and I are already spit balling about what the subsequent one could possibly be down the road. To reply the second a part of your query, would I ever let anybody else make these? It is mine, it is mine. They’re going to pry it out of my chilly useless arms. And equally, if Daniel and I ever cease having enjoyable and we each determine or he decides he would not wanna do it anymore, then so far as I am involved, the sequence is over. This entire factor is simply, it is me and him making these films collectively. That is the enjoyment of it for me. Individuals could make different mysteries all they need, however that is one thing that is for him and me. That is what defines it for me.
(L to R) Josh O’Connor and Josh Brolin in ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’. Cr. John Wilson/Netflix © 2025.
What’s the story of ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’?
When younger priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is shipped to help charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), it’s clear that each one just isn’t properly within the pews.
After a sudden and seemingly unattainable homicide rocks the city, the shortage of an apparent suspect prompts native police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) to hitch forces with famend detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to unravel a thriller that defies all logic.
Who’s within the solid of ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’?
(L to R) ‘Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller’ director Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.