Bullseye with Jesse Thorn Rian Johnson
Jan 6, 2026
Rian Johnson, the visionary writer and director behind the Knives Out series, dives into his background growing up in an evangelical youth group in Orange County. He discusses how this unique upbringing informs his exploration of faith in his new film, Wake Up, Dead Man, set within a Catholic church. Rian shares his love for genre structures as a way to tackle deeper themes, the challenges of low-budget filmmaking, and the emotional significance of collaborating with friends. He reflects on the fluidity of artistry on set and the importance of creating a filmmaking community.
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Faith As A Creative Lens
- Rian Johnson frames faith as a personal narrative lens he carried into his films.
- He used that complicated relationship with Christianity to ground Wake Up, Dead Man emotionally.
Youth-Group Roots And Catholic Setting
- Johnson grew up in Protestant and Orange County youth-group culture and found it theatrical and formative.
- He chose a Catholic setting for distance and aesthetic power while riffing on his evangelical experience.
Outline First, Write With Structure
- Johnson emphasizes rigorous structural outlining as his primary writing method.
- He trusts craft and structure to build satisfying mirrored story arcs and endings.
