Digging into ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ with Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman
The Business · KCRW
November 28, 202530m 2s
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Show Notes
<p dir="ltr">This week, Kim Masters talks to writer-director Rian Johnson and producer Ram Bergman about their latest <em>Knives Out</em> installment, <em>Wake Up Dead Man</em>. Johnson opens up about leaning on his producer when he panics during the writing process—and why, oddly enough, he never hit that wall on <em>The Last Jedi</em>. Bergman explains why he and Johnson prefer to bankroll early development themselves rather than put up with studio input. And they dive into the Netflix of it all: a global megaphone for Benoit Blanc mysteries, but not much of a run in theaters.</p>
<p><strong id="docs-internal-guid-51a40908-7fff-bc2a-fa03-4f39b493742e"><br></strong>Plus, in a truly baffling twist, Paramount is set to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/rush-hour-4-brett-ratner-1236435324/">distribute</a> <em>Rush Hour 4</em>—with the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-brett-ratner-allegations-20171101-htmlstory.html#:~:text=In%20interviews%20with%20the%20Los,sets%20or%20at%20industry%20events.">once-canceled</a> Brett Ratner back in the director’s chair. Even stranger, reporting from <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/11/23/2025/how-trump-is-trying-to-remake-american-culture-starting-with-rush-hour">Semafor</a> suggests President Donald Trump pushed Larry Ellison to revive the Jackie Chan–Chris Tucker franchise. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni attempt to make sense of the latest happenings at Paramount.</p>