Rian Johnson has hinted at Knives Out 4 with Daniel Craig and hopes to cast Meryl Streep. Wake Up Dead Man will arrive in 2025 before the next mystery begins.
If there’s one thing Rian Johnson has shown us these past few years, it’s that the whodunit isn’t defunct but it simply needed a new wardrobe. The Knives Out series has blossomed from a sleeper success into a cultural juggernaut, the quintessential cinematic comfort food for a generation exhausted by CGI superheroes. But now as we’re about to do the third, Wake Up Dead Man (in late 2025), the conversation is already shifting to the future. And that future has a name: Meryl Streep.
Rian Johnson tends to keep things close to the vest. He is notoriously not in possession of “wish lists” of actors, instead allowing the script to determine the casting. However, he has just broken his own rule in an interview with IndieWire, revealing that Meryl Streep for a future mystery is the one and only person he wants.
“I feel like you’d slot into a murder mystery very well,”
–Johnson said
Addressing the screen legend, It’s a match made in cinematic heaven. The Knives Out world is very much about tone, a sort of heightened reality where camp has real emotion. Streep is the unchallenged sovereign of this discrepancy. From the grotesque comedy of Death Becomes Her to the icy satire of The Devil Wears Prada, she can portray a matriarchal antagonist or a flustered intellectual counterpoint to Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc.
The campaign to get her is already in-house. Kerry Washington, star of the soon to Wake Up Dead Man, has gone public with her intention to “encourage” her former co-star to come aboard. In Hollywood, that sort of peer-to-peer validation is often what seals the deal.
Part of the brilliance of the Knives Out approach is its ”revolving door” policy. Except for the immaculately clad Benoit Blanc, no one makes it to the sequel. This “literary hex” format eliminates the “Cabot Cove Syndrome” (“where murder just keeps following one person around”) and keeps the storyline fresh.
According to Variety, This setup has come to serve as the franchise’s secret weapon in recruiting. It’s easy to see Streep, one of the finest actresses of her generation, expressing hesitation about signing a six-movie deal for a Marvel franchise, but a “one-and-done” invitation to play a quirky suspect in a glamorous location? That’s an easy yes. It gives Johnson the ability to book “Avengers-level” casts in what are basically mid-budget conversations in rooms.
“Daniel and I make these films as partners. The moment either of us feels even a little unsure, we’ll stop.
—Johnson said.
We have the 2025 release to work through before any Streep dreams. Wake Up Dead Man will move the satirical focus from the tech disruptors of Glass Onion to religious organizations. With a cast that includes Josh Brolin, Andrew Scott, and the legendary Glenn Close, the film appears to be trying out working with Hollywood royalty—perhaps a dry run for the “Streep Proposition.”
But the most intriguing twist may emerge behind the scenes. The massive $450 million four-picture deal Johnson inked with Netflix officially ends with this third film. This makes Knives Out 4 a “free agent.”
Johnson has spoken openly about his preference for the theatrical experience, and with the rights possibly coming available, we may get a huge bidding war among streamers and traditional studios. This grants Johnson and Daniel Craig extraordinary leverage. If they want to get Meryl Streep to the movie, not just the television movie, they can insist on a full theatrical run as a prerequisite for the next film.
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Asking for Meryl Streep in Knives Out now means the game is no longer a hit series, it’s trying to become a cinematic institution. In the age when franchise and reboots rule the roost, this franchise is the last holdout of the “adult blockbuster”—films that are propelled by dialogue, character and wit rather than explosions.
“When it’s all said and done, you make the movie and you just can’t see anybody else playing that role.”
—Johnson said.
Rian Johnson’s vision of Knives Out is constantly changing and deepening, and with the chance of Meryl Streep joining Daniel Craig in another film round, the franchise is moving closer to become a trip-holiday cinematic tradition. The stage is set for bigger names, bigger bids and an even grander reinvention of the modern whodunit with Wake Up Dead Man coming in 2025 and the fourth film currently in “free agent” limbo. If Streep makes her way into this world, it wouldn’t just be casting — it’d be history.
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Amazon takes over James Bond after Daniel Craig’s exit. Who will be the next 007? Rumors swirl around Idris Elba, Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson & more.
The global franchise is shifting to a refreshing storyline and new characters as the real owner of the James Bond films Barbara Broccoli and Michael G is handing over to Amazon MGM studios. James Bond is a crime thriller movie based on the Ian Fleming novel that grabs global fans over the years. The end of Daniel Craige era with his last performance in ‘No Time To Die’, fans waited so long that after this news online speculation buzzed about who would be the next James Bond?
Lee Child expressed that the Bond franchise is overdue for rejuvenation, highlighting its deep connection to post-war Britain. He also stated that Bond portraying a character who could resolve any challenge and compensate for the country’s diminished real-world power is not that hard task for him. However, he feels this is an outdated concept, we need some fresh concepts and pointed out that those previously in charge of the series seem exhausted. He suggests in Collider reports that new energy and perspective could benefit the franchise greatly.
Amazon has revealed its plan to assume creative control of the highly profitable James Bond movie franchise, the series is poised for transition. This franchise owner Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, after making outstanding movies for years and now they hand over to Amazon for $8.45 billion back in 2021. But they didn’t get creative control.
As MSN reported, Amazon head, Mike Hopkins expressed appreciation for the legacy of James Bond in a statement. He acknowledged the franchise first creator late Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman to introduce Bond to global audience, and later continued the legacy by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli to their fans worldwide. Hopkins emphasized the honor of having this heritage and shared his excitement to the media about guiding the iconic 007 character into its next chapter for worldwide fans.
We have seen Daniel Craige as James Bond in the last James Bond film “No Time To Die”, now the question is, who will step into the iconic role?
Deadline mentioned that the creator Ian Fleming novel needed a British accent male actor, should play this role. speculation has produced a diverse mix of contenders including Theo James, Aaron Taylor Johnson, James Norton, Idris Elba. While Taylor is spreading rumours that he’s been signed for this role officially but without any confirmation it just seems like idle chatter.
Meanwhile, Elba is considered to be a top choice and he consistently distancing himself from the possibility. However, the recent announcement that Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson handing creative control to MGM Studios sparks speculation about changes to the franchise’s traditional drama. Jeff Bezos, the real-life Bond villain behind Amazon, now calls the shots for 007’s future. Fans are suggesting it would turn the movie into a full blown media world like Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The James Bond new movies will be produced under the Amazon MGM studios while Reacher’s showrunner Lee Child suggests the franchise needs a refreshing storyline and perspective rather than the traditional reboots. However, 007 is portrayed by Daniel Craige amazingly, who will acquire this character to take this worldwide loved franchise to the next-level. The online speculations are circling around its fans who would be the perfect James Bond, people are suggesting Henry Cavill could be the perfect match.
Juliette Binoche steps behind the camera with her feature film debut In-Eye in Motion and reveals a powerful and emotional creative transformation. Read more!
When you think of Juliette Binoche, the Oscar-winning French actress known for some of the film industry’s most iconic roles immediately comes to mind. But the iconic actress told Sisters in Cinema at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah récemment that transforming an already extraordinary career in a surprising new direction – she’s not just acting anymore. She is going behind the lens and the tales she is telling are very personal, emotionally raw and fascinating.
In-I In Motion is also Binoche’s first film as director, and it’s nothing like the standard debut film you’d expect. The French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg decided to film something almost too personal, her own story of learning dances. The film chronicles her tempestuous and terrifying 18 months of creating and performing a daring dance show with British dance legend Akram Khan in 2007.
The origin of this piece of work together is wonderfully serendipitous. Binoche remembers being rubbed down by Su-Man Hsu in London when In a completely spontaneous moment she said “yes” in response to a simple question:
“Do you want to dance?”
That took us to Akram Khan’s stunning show, and finally, for just two or three days, to jam as improvisers. But that brief meeting ignited a magical chemistry that would lead them on a mutually transforming creative journey.
What is extraordinary about “In-I In Motion” is not just that Binoche chose to dance professionally at an age when most people would consider such a leap foolhardy. It is that she had the guts to shoot the whole thing— all 170 hours of raw, occasionally chaotic footage and then cut it into a film that is intellectually provocative, politically aware and genuinely tearful. The film doesn’t hide from vulnerability. Binoche speaks candidly about her fears and even relives past traumas, revealing the physical and emotional cost of making art at such a high degree.
The road to finishing this movie was nearly as difficult as bringing the dance show to life. Converting old tapes, obtaining music licensing for each song run in rehearsals, and trying to manage the massive amounts of footage pushed Binoche to her breaking point. During the editing process, she cycled between bouts of intense happiness and hopelessness, at times believing that the whole thing was going nowhere. But she persisted, ultimately adding several editors and formulating a visual strategy, shooting each scene as a photograph to help conceptualize the abstract material that enabled her to pare down a nine-hour first cut into the final film.
“Every night I thought I wasn’t going to make it through this show – it was so exhausting physically and emotionally,”
—she recalls.
That was the feeling every night. Yet this openness is exactly what makes her work so powerful.
Though “In-I In Motion” establishes Binoche as a director, she has not given up acting by any means. At the Red Sea Festival she spoke about “Queen at Sea,” the next movie from director Lance Hammer (the Sundance darling “Ballast”).The film features an outstanding ensemble cast including Oscar-nominated Tom Courtenay, Emmy-winning Anna Calder-Marshall, and “Bridgerton” breakout Florence Hunt.
The story alone is enough to make you emotional. Binoche is a woman who moves to London with her adolescent daughter to look after her aging mother. But this is no mere family drama. Deftly handling one of the most challenging and deeply human topics — Alzheimer’s disease — the movie examines the profoundly emotional and ethical dilemmas of facing the boundaries of what we can (and whether we should) do for someone we love.
“It’s about Alzheimer’s, and about what you can and what you cannot do for a person who has that disease,” says Binoche cautiously,
As she does want to keep the emotional punch of the movie intact. So, the audience could feel deep during the moments. It’s one of the qualities which makes her an incredible performer.
“It asks important questions, especially when it comes to three different generations.”
This emphasis on multiple generations is said to provide a nuanced look at the obligations family members owe each other, love and harsh truths about growing old.
She also is working on an ultimate journey project, “Merci Charlotte,” a collaboration with a Turkish filmmaker that delves in similarly engaging human terrain.
The story focuses on the bond between Binoche and a young boy (under 10 years old) from Turkey.
What is especially extraordinary about Binoche’s first-time director and these continuing projects is how they show the path of her growth as an artist. She has never backed away from testing her limits,whether studying under demanding directors such as Kieslowski or Kiarostami or by challenging her body and emotions on the dance floor. Now, with real directing credits under her belt, she is ready to take that same fearless eye to the story telling form itself.
She received a special tribute at the Red Sea Festival and even met with celebrated director Sean Baker, director of “Anora.” The pair of Oscar winners have “exchanged numbers,” Binoche gushed about working with him. But if that team-up comes to fruition or not, one thing’s for certain: Juliette Binoche is not yet done surprising us.She’s become a full-fledged filmmaker — as a vulnerable person on screen and one who can make the camera tremble from behind it.
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The turn to directing for Juliette Binoche represents a daring and intimate new phase in her professional life. With In-I In Motion, she transposes her vulnerabilities into art and shows that she is as intrepid behind the camera as she is before it. Her upcoming projects, including Queen at Sea and Merci Charlotte, continue to reflect her dedication to truthful, emotionally driven narratives. If anything is clear, Binoche isn’t simply stretching out her talents; she’s reimagining them, and she has only just gotten started.
Fandomfans is focusing on celebrities’ journey from a simple acting role to a legendary directorial debut which makes them unstoppable, catching up with us on your favorite celebrity’s outlook.
