Rian Johnson, writer, producer, and director of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, joins the show. He discusses his fascination with Agatha Christie's novels and adaptations, his writing process for Glass Onion, and how Daniel Craig helped bring Blanc to life. Johnson reflects on his journey into the industry, shares words of wisdom for aspiring filmmakers, and plans his dream dinner party.
Ryan Johnson drew inspiration from Agatha Christie novels and Peter Ustinov's portrayal of Poirot to create the character of Benoit Blanc who engages with the current culture and setting.
Ryan Johnson emphasizes the significance of clarity in directing the audience's attention and building tension in a scene, influenced by the clear and precise visual storytelling of Alfred Hitchcock.
Deep dives
Influences from Agatha Christie and Peter Ustinov
The director, Ryan Johnson, shares that his love for the whodunit genre and the character of Benoit Blanc in his movie series started with his childhood exposure to Agatha Christie novels and Peter Ustinov's portrayal of Poirot. Johnson drew inspiration from the humor and wit in Ustinov's performances and wanted to create a similar character who engages with the current culture and setting.
The Importance of Clarity in Visual Storytelling
Ryan Johnson mentions how the clear and precise visual storytelling of Alfred Hitchcock has greatly influenced his approach to suspense and narrative. He emphasizes the significance of clarity in directing the audience's attention and building tension in a scene. Johnson values the fundamentals of Hitchcock's work and believes that being visually clear in storytelling is vital for creating suspense and engagement with the audience.
The Joy of Working with Daniel Craig and Creating a Fresh Franchise
While writing the script, Ryan Johnson did not have Daniel Craig in mind for the character of Benoit Blanc. However, upon casting Craig, Johnson found that the actor's portrayal brought the character to life in ways he hadn't anticipated. Johnson highlights Craig's dedication, hard work, and enthusiasm for the role. He also expresses excitement about the opportunity to build a franchise that constantly explores new territories narratively and tonally, allowing each movie to have its own distinct personality beyond the common elements of the whodunit genre.
Rian Johnson joins the show to chat with Krista about his Knives Out follow up, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which he wrote, produced, and directed. This fresh adventure findsBenoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) at a lavish private estate on a Greek island, but how and why he comes to be there is only the first of many puzzles.
Johnson explains how his childhood fascination with Agatha Christie novels and film adaptations inspired his desire to transpose the whodunit genre into a modern context, details his Glass Onion writing process, and shares how Craig helped him bring Blanc to life during the creation of Knives Out.
Johnson also reflects on his journey into the industry, shares some words of wisdom for aspiring filmmakers, and plans out his perfect dinner party.
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