Knives Out 4: Rian Johnson’s Vague Ideas and Future Plans
The ‘Knives Out' franchise, known for its modern murder-mystery appeal, is poised for a potential fourth installment, ‘Knives Out 4‘, as creator Rian Johnson expresses a desire to continue the series indefinitely. Following the December 12 release of the third film, ‘Wake Up Dead Man', starring Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, fans are eagerly anticipating news about the next chapter.
However, Johnson currently lacks concrete plans for ‘Knives Out 4′. In a December 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly, he revealed he only has “basic, elemental, conceptual ideas” or “kernels” for what the film might entail. He emphasized the importance of keeping these ideas vague, stating, “I don’t have a theme yet, I don’t have a location. It’s really pretty vague, and I feel like it’s good to kinda keep it vague until I’m ready to actually sit down and write it.” This approach allows each film to possess a unique identity and react to the cultural moment of its release, serving as a “vibe check of the United States.”
Each previous film has showcased distinct tones: the 2019 debut, led by Ana de Armas, embraced a classic Agatha Christie whodunit style, while 2022’s ‘Glass Onion' delved into campy, “eat-the-rich” satire. ‘Wake Up Dead Man' is set to explore darker themes of faith within a Gothic backdrop, drawing comparisons to Edgar Allan Poe. Johnson appreciates that these movies are not “timeless, per se,” but rather grounded in the contemporary shared experience.
Despite the enthusiasm, fans shouldn't expect ‘Knives Out 4′ immediately. Johnson plans to direct a standalone sci-fi film, an homage to '70s paranoid thrillers, before returning his focus to the murder-mystery series. While the timeline remains uncertain and the specific plot details are non-existent, Johnson assures that the world of Benoit Blanc will continue to expand, ensuring more intriguing mysteries in the future.
As Rian Johnson continues to develop his ideas for Knives Out 4, fans eagerly speculate about how he will incorporate more pop culture knives out into the storyline.
(Source: https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/knives-out-4-release-date-confirmation-plot-details/)
