Rian Johnson Addressed Fans’ Desire For A Benoit Blanc And Muppets Movie, And I Think He’s Got The Right Idea

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Rian Johnson’s newest movie, Wake Up Dead Man, is, in my opinion, the strongest film in the Knives Out series, even though it’s less lighthearted than the previous installments. The movie’s focus on religion and belief might make a long-requested crossover – featuring Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc teaming up with the Muppets to solve a mystery – seem less likely. However, fans will probably continue to ask for it, especially since the director has now acknowledged the idea.

Surprisingly, Dwayne Johnson seriously considered the idea of combining the Fast & Furious and Muppets universes, as he’s a big Muppets fan. However, he told The Hollywood Reporter he doesn’t think it would be as fun as some fans imagine. Honestly, I tend to agree with him. Here’s his explanation:

I’ve seen a lot of discussion online about making a ‘Knives Out’ movie with Muppets, and I wanted to share why I think that wouldn’t work. It’s not that it’s a terrible idea, but I’m a big fan of both Muppet movies and the Benoit Blanc mysteries, and they’re just too different in tone. Putting Muppets into a ‘Knives Out’ style story would feel off, mainly because the plot relies on characters being murdered, which doesn’t fit the Muppets’ world.

Fans aren’t just asking for a team-up between detective Benoit Blanc and the Muppets – they’ve already made fan-made videos combining footage of the two, and people love them! However, those videos simply put existing scenes together. A truly original story where Blanc and the Muppets work together is a different challenge. Daniel Craig, who plays Blanc, is understandably cautious, as his character is grounded in facts and realism, while the Muppets are known for their whimsical, fantastical nature.

Viewers probably wouldn’t be too bothered if a lesser-known Muppet character died, similar to how The Simpsons has occasionally eliminated background characters. (Or, honestly, they could even do something with Walter – maybe even just pretend he’s gone.) It’s also possible the Muppets could be involved in solving a human murder. I understand the idea of a crime is a concern, but this isn’t Muppet Babies. (Though, a darker take on that show could actually be interesting.)

Rian Johnson continued, saying why he doesn’t think the alternate of the above would work either:

Another option would be to put Benoit Blanc in a Muppet movie – which, honestly, would be a lot of fun – but it would likely ruin the serious, grounded nature of his character.

It’s understandable why a full movie focused on fending off Fozzie’s bad jokes and Miss Piggy’s flirtations could diminish the impact of Blanc’s previous, more serious work. As the character’s creator, Johnson probably wants to protect Blanc’s reputation and avoid anything that might tarnish it. He wouldn’t want all the careful work he’s put into these films to be overshadowed by a silly scene, like Craig trying to cook with the Swedish Chef.

Ultimately, the most important point to remember, and what Disney really needs to focus on, is what the director of The Last Jedi stated as a final thought:

Which is all to say: I would just love to do a regular awesome Muppet movie!

Someone needs to fund this person immediately! It’s a great time for Muppets, with exciting new projects in the works. Seth Rogen is creating a new Muppet Show special for Disney+, and Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone are set to star in a Miss Piggy movie written by Cole Escola. While the cancellation of Muppets Mayhem was disappointing, these upcoming projects offer a lot of hope for the future.

If Rian Johnson’s current projects do well, Disney might ask him to direct a new Muppets movie. Fans are hoping this film could cleverly include a reference to his Knives Out series – perhaps with a character watching one of the movies, featuring Benoit Blanc – without disrupting established Muppets canon. Right now, you can see Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man in theaters, and it will be available to stream on Netflix starting December 12th.

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2025-12-02 00:08