“Theatrical is not going anywhere” - Knives Out 3 director disagrees with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos controversial theaters are “outdated” claims

Knives Out 3 director Rian Johnson may have already worked and has an upcoming movie with Netflix, but he does not agree with the streaming giant's CEO, Ted Sarandos's, words about theaters. The director recently disagreed with Sarandos's claims and added, "Theatrical is not going anywhere."

Johnson is currently working on the awaited movie Knives Out 3, aka Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The movie marks the third installment in the film franchise. During a recent conversation with Business Insider, Johnson mentioned how he does not believe that movie theaters are "outdated."

For the unversed, Ted Sarandos, last month, appeared at the Time 100 Summit and talked about the audience's transition from theaters to digital platforms. He said,

"We’re in a period of transition. Folks grew up thinking, 'I want to make movies on a gigantic screen and have strangers watch them play in the theater for two months and people cry and sold-out shows.'... It’s an outdated concept."

He further argued that theaters are now more "outdated." Sarandos further added that the entire country cannot "walk to a multiplex and see a movie."

In response, the Knives Out 3 director mentioned that he is not completely aware of Sarandos's comments, but he argued that he "loves movies. I love going to see movies." Johnson further cited the success of Sinners and A Minecraft Movie as examples of the audience's interest in catching up on movies in theaters.

"I think theatrical is not going anywhere. I think we've seen [that] if you put a movie people want to see in the theaters, they are going to show up for it," the director added.

Johnson argued that the

"experience of being in a full house and having that experience is so important. It's something that I love and I want more of in the world."

He also wishes the same for his upcoming movie and claimed that the team will

"push for everything we can get in terms of theatrical, because I want as many people as possible to see it in that form."

The first installment in the film franchise had a theatrical release in 2019. However, in 2021, Netflix bought the rights to the franchise's two sequels. Therefore, the sequels are now the streaming platform's originals.

More details about Knives Out 3

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Rian Johnson has again served as the writer and director of a third installment in the film franchise titled Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The upcoming movie will witness the return of Detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, who has successfully solved the previous two mysteries.

The movie also casts Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Josh Brolin, Josh O'Connor, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, and more in crucial roles. While its release date is currently under wraps, the movie is expected to be released in the fall of 2025.

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