Rian Johnson on Star Wars backlash and Benoit Blanc's future

Filmmaker Rian Johnson, recognized among TIME's 100 most influential, has reflected on his diverse filmography, including the impactful 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi.' Despite the film's divisive fan reception, Johnson maintains a positive outlook, emphasizing his lifelong connection to Star Wars and finding value in the fandom's passionate engagement. He described the experience as the most positive he's had interacting with audiences of his work, ultimately deepening his appreciation for the Star Wars community.

The director also shared his passion for the murder mystery genre, which inspired the 'Knives Out' film series. Initially conceived as a one-off project, the success of 'Knives Out' and its sequel, 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,' has led Johnson to envision a long future for detective Benoit Blanc. He and star Daniel Craig are committed to exploring new narrative territory with each installment, aiming to avoid repetition and keep the series fresh.

Looking ahead, Johnson is eager to continue crafting Benoit Blanc mysteries, expressing a desire to make them for the remainder of his career, contingent on audience interest and their own creative drive. He humorously addressed the internet's fascination with a 'Knives Out' Muppet movie, explaining why such a crossover would be problematic, particularly concerning the darker elements of murder mysteries clashing with the lighthearted nature of the Muppets. Johnson instead conveyed interest in directing a standalone Muppet film.