Rian Johnson reveals challenges in writing Wake Up Dead Man
Director Rian Johnson described his upcoming mystery film Wake Up Dead Man as the most challenging screenplay he has produced. The third installment in the Knives Out series follows detective Benoit Blanc investigating a murder at a church where religious leaders conflict.
Johnson spent eight months preparing to write the script because it explores his personal relationship with Christianity. He attended church regularly as a child and maintained strong religious beliefs that shaped his worldview but no longer practices faith as an adult.
The filmmaker wanted to examine religion honestly without appearing preachy or disrespectful to believers in his life. He told Empire magazine that his complicated feelings about faith made the writing process particularly difficult.
Wake Up Dead Man arrives in theaters on Wednesday, Nov. 26 and streams on Netflix starting on Friday, Dec. 12. The film stars Josh Brolin and Josh O’Connor as clergy members connected to the central crime.
