
Rian Johnson
Film director and writer known for movies such as Brick, Looper, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and the Knives Out series; discusses how Wagner's Das Rheingold influenced him.
Top 10 podcasts with Rian Johnson
Ranked by the Snipd community

20 snips
Nov 15, 2023 • 1h 11min
RIAN JOHNSON - Writer / Director
Rian Johnson, writer and director of Knives Out, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Looper, discusses various topics in this podcast. He talks about attending a screenwriting seminar with his father, the father-son story in Looper, differences in crew cultures, creative partnerships with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Steve Yedlin, the design of the throne room in The Last Jedi, and building extensive and grounded sets. Johnson also reflects on his abilities as a filmmaker and the beauty of emotionally correct scenes in a story.

16 snips
Dec 10, 2025 • 23min
Key Change: Rian Johnson on Wagner's 'Das Rheingold'
Rian Johnson, the acclaimed director behind films like Brick and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, dives into the profound influence of Wagner's Das Rheingold on his creative journey. He recalls the overture's powerful opening chord and how it disrupted his writing process, forcing him to prioritize emotional depth over cleverness. Reflecting on his solitary experience at the opera in Paris, Rian connects these themes to his work on The Last Jedi and his latest film, Wake Up Dead Man, highlighting how opera shapes his storytelling.

12 snips
Dec 19, 2022 • 1h 25min
Episode 1393 - Rian Johnson
Rian Johnson revived the mystery genre with his movie Knives Out and now he’s seeing what other places he can take it, both with the sequel Glass Onion and his new detective series Poker Face. But that’s the kind of filmmaker Rian is. As he tells Marc, Rian enjoys hopping genres, whether it’s a noir takeoff like Brick, a time travel riff like Looper, or the metatextual Star Wars mythology he explored in The Last Jedi. They also talk about Rian’s direction of two classic Breaking Bad episodes.Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 25, 2022 • 31min
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery with Rian Johnson and Phil Lord (Ep. 390)
Director Rian Johnson and fellow director Phil Lord discuss the process of creating 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery', including their inspiration from Agatha Christie novels and 70s/80s movies, the challenge of creating a narrative twist, and the importance of preparation and collaboration in filmmaking.

Dec 12, 2025 • 29min
Films That Influenced WAKE UP DEAD MAN with Rian Johnson
Join filmmaker Rian Johnson, known for his work on the Benoit Blanc series, as he shares insights on the films that shaped his new mystery, *Wake Up Dead Man*. He reminisces about Alec Guinness’s *Father Brown*, highlighting its character depth and tone. Discover how *Green for Danger* and *And Then There Were None* influenced his narrative structure. Rian also examines the class themes in *Sleuth* and the game-like elements from *The Last of Sheila*. With a gothic touch inspired by *Ladies in Retirement*, this conversation is a treasure for mystery fans!

Nov 28, 2025 • 30min
Digging into ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ with Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman
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.

Nov 19, 2025 • 58min
Rian Johnson - 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' [LIVE]
Rian Johnson, the acclaimed writer-director of films like Knives Out and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, discusses his creative journey from indie filmmaker to blockbuster director. He shares insights into his passion for storytelling, the influences behind his films, and the evolution of his Benoit Blanc series. Highlights include his unique approach to time travel narratives, navigating the complexities of directing iconic actors like Mark Hamill, and the tonal diversity across his mystery trilogy. Plus, he reveals future ambitions, including a desire to tackle musicals!

Mar 10, 2023 • 58min
"The Nominees Are..." - A WTF Compilation
A special compilation of this year's Oscar nominees talking about their nominated works. Hear excerpts from Marc's interviews with Michelle Yeoh, Daniels, Brendan Fraser, Hong Chau, Austin Butler, Andrea Riseborough, Sarah Polley, Todd Field, Rian Johnson, Judd Hirsch and Tony Kushner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 30, 2022 • 27min
Rian Johnson
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.

Nov 28, 2022 • 48min
"Rian Johnson"
Rian Johnson, the acclaimed writer/director behind hits like Knives Out and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, shares his insights on filmmaking and personal journeys. He humorously reflects on movie-making with friends and the challenges of script confidentiality in Hollywood. The conversation dives into the unique dynamics of the Star Wars franchise’s evolution and the importance of collaboration in film. Johnson also discusses his experiences at film school, balancing nostalgia, and the joy of storytelling that keeps audiences engaged.


