Director Rian Johnson discusses Knives Out

November 30, 2019

DGA Q&As in Los Angeles and New York

A detective investigates the death of the patriarch of an eccentric, combative family in Director Rian Johnson’s murder-mystery comedy, Knives Out.

Johnson’s film is a whodunit that follows debonair Detective Benoit Blanc’s (Daniel Craig) investigation of the demise of renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). With suspects aplenty in Thrombey’s dysfunctional family and devoted staff, Blanc must wade through a sea of red herrings to uncover the truth.

Following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on November 29, Johnson sat down with Director Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) to discuss the making of Knives Out and working with an all-star cast that also featured Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon and LaKeith Stanfield. Johnson also discussed the film in a conversation moderated by Director Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) following the DGA membership screening in New York on November 24.

In addition to Knives Out, Johnson’s credits include the feature films Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Looper, The Brothers Bloom, Brick and episodes of the television series Terriers and Breaking Bad. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for his 2012 Breaking Bad episode “Fifty-One.” Johnson has been a DGA member since 2009.

You can listen to Johnson's Q&A by clicking the podcast episode embedded below. You can find more DGA podcast episodes here.

Pictures

Event photos by Trixie Textor (Los Angeles) and Marcie Revens (New York) - Print courtesy of Liongate.

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Director Rian Johnson speaks about the making of his murder-mystery comedy, Knives Out, following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Jamie Lee Curtis as Linda Drysdale, Christopher Plummer as Harlan Thrombey, Don Johnson as Richard Drysdale and Michael Shannon as Walt Thrombey in Director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out.

Director Rian Johnson speaks about the making of his murder-mystery comedy, Knives Out, following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Director Rian Johnson speaks about the making of Knives Out with Director Noah Baumbach (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc in Director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out.

Director Rian Johnson (right) speaks about the making of Knives Out with Director Denis Villeneuve (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Director Denis Villeneuve (moderator) asks Director Rian Johnson a question about the making of Johnson’s murder-mystery comedy, Knives Out, following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Katherine Langford as Meg Thrombey, Toni Collette as Joni Thrombey, Jamie Lee Curtis as Linda Drysdale, Don Johnson as Richard Drysdale, Michael Shannon as Walt Thrombey, Riki Lindhome as Donna Thrombey and Jaeden Martell as Jacob Thrombey in Director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out.

Director Noah Baumbach (moderator) asks Director Rian Johnson a question about the making of Johnson’s murder-mystery comedy, Knives Out, following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Directors Rian Johnson and Noah Baumbach (moderator) pose for a photo following the New York DGA membership screening of Johnson’s murder-mystery comedy, Knives Out.

LaKeith Stanfield as Lieutenant Elliott and Noah Segan as Trooper Wagner in Director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out.

Directors Denis Villeneuve (moderator) and Rian Johnson pose for a photo following the Los Angeles DGA membership screening of Johnson’s murder-mystery comedy, Knives Out.

Director Rian Johnson chats with a member of the audience following the Los Angeles DGA membership screening of his murder-mystery comedy, Knives Out.

Chris Evans as Ransom Drysdale in Director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out.

Director Rian Johnson chats with members of the audience following the New York DGA membership screening of his murder-mystery comedy, Knives Out.

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8/19/2025 - 8/25/2025