The ‘Star Wars’ Gag in ‘Wake Up Lifeless Man’ Is Pure Rian Johnson

In the event you’re on the lookout for glorious 2025 releases to observe when you’re dwelling for the vacations, look no additional than Netflix. Warner Bros.’ (almost) new owner has a number of unbelievable unique movies now streaming, from Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and the George Clooney-starring Jay Kelly to Jyn Erso and Owen Lars (Felicity Jones and Joel Edgerton) in Practice Goals, in addition to KPop Demon Hunters and extra.

The perfect of the bunch, although, might be Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out movie, Wake Up Lifeless Man. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returns to unravel one other homicide, with a star-studded forged and extra twists and turns than ever. It’s our favourite of the bunch, and a part of that could be a good Star Wars joke that comes about midway by means of the movie.

We received’t spoil how the movie ends, however this does contain a mid-movie reveal.

About midway by means of the movie, we be taught that Cy (Daryl McCormack) is the son of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). In a flashback, we watch the social media-savvy Cy inform his father about how they’ll use social media to make him into a star. Presumably even the president. “Collectively we are able to construct an actual empire, as father and son,” Cy tells Wicks. We then minimize to the current, the place Father Jud (Josh O’Connor) says what the viewers is pondering. “Like in Star Wars?” Cy then replies, “Yeah, precisely, just like the Rebels.” And Jud offers him that look of, “I feel you imply Empire, however we’ll let it go.”

Within the context of the movie, the joke works as a result of it’s humorous and tells us a bit about Cy, Wicks’ plan, and Jud’s understanding. But it surely additionally works on one other stage.

Earlier than the Knives Out movies, writer-director Rian Johnson made a bit of movie known as Star Wars: The Final Jedi. That movie was, in some circles, wildly misinterpreted. Folks had been mad that Luke Skywalker sacrificed himself, when that was probably the most Jedi factor he might have executed. Folks had been mad concerning the lengthy scene at Canto Bight, when it was essential to Finn’s journey. Folks had been mad at Snoke being killed, when that was the precise sort of daring storytelling that made The Empire Strikes Again everybody’s favourite Star Wars movie. The record goes on and on.

And so, Johnson placing in a joke about this man wildly misinterpreting Star Wars feels very pointed. Perhaps even cathartic. Cy is an fool, and, effectively, perhaps Johnson feels equally about different folks, too. Or, perhaps, Star Wars simply works otherwise relying on who’s watching it. Regardless of the case, having such a fast apart turn into so layered is pure Rian Johnson.

See that joke, and lots of others, in the most effective movies of 2025, Wake Up Lifeless Man: A Knives Out Thriller, streaming on Netflix.

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