Will Rian Johnson Be The First Director To Leave Netflix For Their Non-Theatrical Release Model?

Dan Lalonde
Jul 13
1 min read

Rian Johnson Netflix Daniel Craig Greta Gerwig

How many times did you go to the movie theater this year?

In 2021, Netflix made headlines by acquiring two Knives Out sequels in a $400M deal. But now, with Knives Out 3 (Wake Up Dead Man) on the horizon for 2025, reports suggest Johnson won't renew his partnership with the streamer.

According to The InSneider, Johnson is already developing his new film, an original sci-fi concept conceived during the making of Looper, and is expected to shop it to other studios soon. This comes amid growing tension between Johnson and Netflix, reportedly over the streamer’s unwillingness to offer wide theatrical releases.

Both Johnson and Knives Out star Daniel Craig were said to be disappointed by Glass Onion's limited theatrical run, which some insiders believe cost the film $600 million in lost box office revenue.

The frustration isn’t isolated. Directors like Greta Gerwig and Emerald Fennell are also said to be pushing back against Netflix’s rigid distribution model.

Meanwhile, Johnson’s T-Street banner recently signed a two-film deal with Warner Bros., which includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s upcoming AI thriller and a new feature from Fair Play director Chloe Domont. With these fresh collaborations and a new sci-fi story in hand, Johnson seems poised for an ambitious next chapter, one that may finally bring his visions to wider screens. Comment below with your thoughts.