The Business Digging into ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ with Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman
Nov 28, 2025
Rian Johnson, the creative mind behind hits like Knives Out, teams up with producer Ram Bergman for an insightful discussion. Rian shares his unique writing process for Wake Up Dead Man, revealing why it felt personally resonant and how he navigates panic during creativity. Ram explains their self-financing strategy for films to retain creative control and the advantages of Netflix's supportive approach. They also explore the contrasting impacts of streaming versus theatrical releases, and Rian's experiences balancing multiple projects.
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Humble Origins Of A Big Franchise
- Rian Johnson recalled pitching Knives Out when the whodunit genre felt "musty" and people doubted making another film after Star Wars.
- He and Ram Bergman originally wondered if they could "get away with one," which led to the series' unexpected growth.
Panic During The Hardest Script
- Rian Johnson described a punishing writing period on Wake Up Dead Man that left him panicking about the script's viability.
- He compared the process to Apocalypse Now documentary scenes, telling Ram Bergman "it's not going to work, man."
Trust But Monitor Creative Panic
- Ram Bergman trusts Rian's process and rarely intervenes while Rian works through panic phases.
- He cautioned that one day he will step in if Rian truly can't deliver, implying measured producer oversight.