‘Wake Up Dead Man’ at The Ankler’s Prestige Junkie TIFF Studio

Director Rian Johnson joins actor Daniel Craig to discuss the latest ‘Knives Out’ mystery with The Ankler’s Katey Rich. Venue: Soluna Toronto Video Production: Byrne Production Services Video Editing: Peter Hatch Photography: Chris Chapman Studio Coffee Supplier: Lang’s Coffee Chapters 0:00 Katey Rich tees up the secrecy around ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ 0:06 What do you even call it: ‘Knives Out’ or not? 0:24 Secret-keeping after years of Benoit Blanc 0:33 Daniel Craig as the only cast member who’s seen the film 0:43 Why Daniel Craig gets the early look and the “arrangement” 1:12 Rian Johnson on their creative partnership and why it keeps going 1:59 Trilogy question: ending point or just another Benoit Blanc case 2:16 Rian Johnson on treating each film as its own event 2:41 Starting from scratch after ‘Glass Onion’ 3:00 When Rian Johnson brings Daniel Craig into the idea 3:06 The London premiere cigar story and the early outline 3:53 Tonal reset after ‘Glass Onion’: bringing it “down to earth” 4:22 The new avenue: locked-door mystery, darker and more gothic 4:51 Influences and references: books over movies 5:17 John Dickson Carr and “impossible crimes” as a key touchstone 5:49 Keeping Benoit Blanc fresh across different worlds 6:08 Rian Johnson on writing Benoit Blanc to fit the story 6:42 Daniel Craig on Benoit Blanc’s journey and Father Jud 7:23 Bringing in a new ensemble and getting everyone on the same tone 7:45 Daniel Craig on Rian Johnson setting the tone and letting actors play 9:00 Rian Johnson on Daniel Craig’s role in setting the set culture 9:24 Maintaining playfulness under film-set pressure 9:32 Casting caliber and the ensemble “theater” vibe 10:24 Comparing the ‘Glass Onion’ COVID shoot to this production 11:07 Theatrical urgency: getting audiences into theaters first 11:36 Rian Johnson on audiences, especially young audiences, driving it 12:39 What trends feel hopeful for moviegoing and filmmaking 13:34 Premiere night: do they watch it with the Toronto audience 14:17 Rian Johnson on hating to watch his own movies, except here 14:39 The moments they’re waiting for audiences to react to 14:56 The press and internet respecting spoilers 15:20 Spoiler culture vs protecting the experience 16:08 Wrap-up, thanks, and “keep the secrets”