Acclaimed filmmaker Rian Johnson has expressed a strong desire to bring Hollywood legend Meryl Streep into his expanding Benoit Blanc / Knives Out universe. Speaking in a recent conversation with IndieWire, the Oscar-nominated director said there are many stars he hopes to collaborate with, but Streep stands out as a dream addition.
“There are so many great actors I’d like to work with,” Johnson said. “But, yes, if you’re reading this, Meryl Streep, I feel like you’d slot into a murder mystery very well.”
The comment arrives as anticipation grows for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third installment in the hit franchise. The film follows Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022), both known for assembling powerhouse ensemble casts and delivering clever, satirical storytelling. Johnson emphasized how much he enjoys casting fresh faces and industry icons alike.
“I love working with actors so much,” he said. “And that’s one of the real treats of making these movies — you get to experience new actors and these big casts.”
Streep Already Has Genre Experience
While Johnson suggested that Streep would be a natural fit for the universe, the actress has already dabbled in comedic murder mystery territory. She starred in Hulu’s smash hit Only Murders in the Building, which wrapped its fifth season last month to strong reviews. Johnson even joked that if Saturday Night Live showrunner Lorne Michaels convinced her to join SNL’s milestone 50th season, then his team should have no problem as well.
Next year, audiences will see Streep reprise one of her most iconic characters — Miranda Priestly — in the upcoming 2026 sequel to The Devil Wears Prada. The original film earned Streep widespread acclaim for her commanding performance.
Huge Cast for Next Knives Out Film
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery brings back Daniel Craig as master detective Benoit Blanc. This time, Blanc travels to an upstate New York town to uncover the murder of a controversial monsignor played by Josh Brolin. The star-studded cast also includes Josh O’Connor, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close and Thomas Haden Church.
The film debuted in select theaters ahead of Thanksgiving and has already earned over $4 million at the box office, generating strong early reviews from critics and audiences. A wider release will arrive on Netflix on December 12.
Johnson hinted that while the franchise continues to expand, he is also writing new original projects that may feature actors he has grown close to through the Knives Out series.
