Screenwriter Rian Johnson to be honored with the Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting at the Austin Film Festival - Short update on film industry news.
In the world of film, excitement is building as several intriguing projects are on the horizon. Let's delve into two of these captivating productions.
Firstly, Rian Johnson's upcoming film, "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," is set to be the third installment in the popular Knives Out series. This standalone sequel to "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" (2022) will see Daniel Craig reprising his role as detective Benoit Blanc. The ensemble cast includes Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.
Johnson describes the film as "incredibly different from Glass Onion," returning to a more grounded, Gothic tone reminiscent of classic murder mysteries inspired by Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe. The film is scheduled for its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in September, followed by its international premiere at the 2025 BFI London Film Festival on October 8. It will then be released by Netflix on December 12.
Meanwhile, in the realm of documentaries, "My Father, Dick Allen," a new film about baseball player Dick Allen, directed by Andy Billman, is set to be released in 2026. The documentary will be narrated by actor Jocko Sims.
Elsewhere, the immersive cinema experience is evolving, with Cosm unveiling a shared reality cinematic experience at their locations in Los Angeles and Dallas on September 23. This innovative approach will be showcased in the fall for the 1971 film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory." The shared reality experience for this classic film has been developed in collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures, Little Cinema, and MakeMake.
In other news, Laika, the studio behind "Coraline," "ParaNorman," and "Kubo and the Two Strings," has been welcomed as an official member of the Academy Software Foundation. As an official member, Laika will continue to support projects, expand the foundation's mission, and address the needs of smaller studios.
Lastly, Fathom Entertainment has added three extra days to the 60th Anniversary theatrical rerelease of "The Sound of Music," now running from Sep. 12 to Sep. 17. Additionally, Rian Johnson will receive the Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting at the Austin Film Festival in 2025. The festival's 2025 Writers Conference will take place from Oct. 23 to Oct. 26, and the Texas premiere of "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" will screen at the Austin Film Festival.
Laika will also participate in the Summer Learning Program and other mentorship programs to discover and develop diverse new talent. It's an exciting time for film enthusiasts, as these projects promise to deliver captivating stories and innovative experiences.
Movies-and-TV enthusiasts can anticipate Rian Johnson's latest film, "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," as it delves into the world of entertainment, offering an intriguing installation in the Knives Out series. On the other hand, for those more interested in documentaries, the pending release of "My Father, Dick Allen" presents an opportunity to explore the life of baseball player Dick Allen.
