“Knives Out” franchise creator Rian Johnson is joining the ever-growing list of creators speaking out against AI. In a recent interview, the filmmaker discussed his upcoming movie, “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” as well as potential future projects. However, the conversation soon shifted to the state of the film industry, where Johnson shared his thoughts on the technology.
“Yeah, fuck AI. It’s something that’s making everything worse in every single way — I don’t get it,” Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter. “I mean, I get it in a ‘This makes sense to save money by not paying artists’ way.’ But then, what the fuck are we doing? Is this where we want to be?”
This stance is in direct opposition to (now former) collaborator Natasha Lyonne, who starred in his series “Poker Face.” Since this interview took place, the series was canceled by NBC. Johnson is shopping it to other homes with Lyonne no longer attached to star, only as an executive producer.
Earlier this year, Lyonne made headlines when she announced she’d be making her feature-length directorial debut with the upcoming “Uncanny Valley.” The film takes place in the world of immersive video games and looks at their dependence on AI. Given this plot, the production is partnered with Asteria, an AI-based studio founded by Lyonne and Bryn Mooser. It “will blend traditional storytelling techniques with cutting-edge AI technologies to create a radical new cinematic experience,” says an Asteria representative.
Fellow collaborator Joseph Gordon-Levitt is also working on a film that’s set to star Anne Hathaway and explore AI. Despite being backed by Johnson’s production company T-Street, the filmmaker says it’s not an endorsement.
Johnson’s Next Project?
Johnson makes it clear he is open to doing more “Knives Out” movies for Netflix. But for his next film, he would like to pursue a more traditional theatrical release. While no one is denying that his mostly streaming deal with Netflix has been lucrative, the limited theatrical runs can be frustrating.
The filmmaker says he is working on a 70s-inspired paranoid thriller.
“Given the realities of the uncertainty of everything, how do we make these movies for a price that makes sense?” he says. “Not to say there aren’t realities in the industry — and not to say it isn’t really, really tough right now, and we swim in the same waters as everyone — but I still believe you can make something unique and interesting. That’s still the most valuable coin.”
We’ll keep you posted on updates about Johnson’s upcoming projects. “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” opens in select theaters starting November 26th. It hits Netflix on December 12th. You can check out the latest trailer below:
