The ‘Star Wars’ Gag in ‘Wake Up Useless Man’ Is Pure Rian Johnson

When you’re in search of glorious 2025 releases to observe whilst you’re dwelling for the vacations, look no additional than Netflix. Warner Bros.’ (almost) new owner has a number of improbable authentic movies now streaming, from Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and the George Clooney-starring Jay Kelly to Jyn Erso and Owen Lars (Felicity Jones and Joel Edgerton) in Prepare Goals, in addition to KPop Demon Hunters and extra.

The very best of the bunch, although, might be Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out movie, Wake Up Useless Man. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returns to unravel one other homicide, with a star-studded forged and extra twists and turns than ever. It’s our favourite of the bunch, and a part of that could be a excellent Star Wars joke that comes about midway by means of the movie.

We gained’t spoil how the movie ends, however this does contain a mid-movie reveal.

About midway by means of the movie, we study that Cy (Daryl McCormack) is the son of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). In a flashback, we watch the social media-savvy Cy inform his father about how they’ll use social media to make him into a celeb. Presumably even the president. “Collectively we will construct an actual empire, as father and son,” Cy tells Wicks. We then lower to the current, the place Father Jud (Josh O’Connor) says what the viewers is pondering. “Like in Star Wars?” Cy then replies, “Yeah, precisely, just like the Rebels.” And Jud offers him that look of, “I believe you imply Empire, however we’ll let it go.”

Within the context of the movie, the joke works as a result of it’s humorous and tells us a bit about Cy, Wicks’ plan, and Jud’s understanding. However it additionally works on one other stage.

Earlier than the Knives Out movies, writer-director Rian Johnson made a bit of movie referred to as Star Wars: The Final Jedi. That movie was, in some circles, wildly misinterpreted. Individuals had been mad that Luke Skywalker sacrificed himself, when that was essentially the most Jedi factor he might have performed. Individuals had been mad concerning the lengthy scene at Canto Bight, when it was essential to Finn’s journey. Individuals had been mad at Snoke being killed, when that was the precise kind of daring storytelling that made The Empire Strikes Again everybody’s favourite Star Wars movie. The listing goes on and on.

And so, Johnson placing in a joke about this man wildly misinterpreting Star Wars feels very pointed. Possibly even cathartic. Cy is an fool, and, nicely, possibly Johnson feels equally about different individuals, too. Or, possibly, Star Wars simply works in another way relying on who’s watching it. Regardless of the case, having such a fast apart change into so layered is pure Rian Johnson.

See that joke, and plenty of others, in among the finest movies of 2025, Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller, streaming on Netflix.

Need extra io9 information? Try when to anticipate the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and every thing you could learn about the way forward for Doctor Who.