Empire Magazine has published a new interview with Rian Johnson, the director of the upcoming Netflix film Wake Up Dead Man. Accompanying the interview is a new photo.

Wake Up Dead Man is the third installment in the acclaimed Knives Out detective film series, featuring Daniel Craig solving murders as the eccentric Benoit Blanc. However, according to Johnson, this third installment was particularly challenging to create.

Close To Heart

"This was definitely the hardest script I have ever written," the director shares in the interview. The film is set in a church community, which Johnson holds dear to him.

"I was raised very Christian," he says. "I am not anymore, but I have many people in my life whom I love who still are. (...) I have mixed feelings about it."

Photo

For Johnson, combining a Christian environment with a mystery posed significant challenges. The film includes several Christian characters, including Priest Judd (Josh O'Connor).

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The new photo showcases O'Connor and Craig together prominently. Wake Up Dead Man also features roles for Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Glenn Close, and more, and will be released on November 26 on Netflix.

The creators of Stranger Things have addressed a hotly debated rumor: Eddie Munson will not return in the fifth season. The popular rocker, played by Joseph Quinn, became a fan favorite in the fourth season, but his fate seems definitively sealed. The Duffer brothers stated in an interview that the character's death leaves no room for speculation.

"I love that Joe Quinn teases the fans, but no, he's dead," said Matt Duffer. "He has filmed five movies since his departure, so he doesn't have time to come back. Unfortunately, rest in peace, he is truly underground." The actor rose to fame thanks to his role as the leader of the Hellfire Club and is now appearing in major film projects such as The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Sam Mendes’ Beatles films.

An Inevitable Farewell

In season four, Eddie played a crucial role in the fight against Vecna. His ultimate sacrifice to distract the Demobats earned him iconic status among fans. However, according to the Duffers, there will be no unexpected resurrection, as was earlier seen with Billy in a vision.

In addition to the regular cast, new names will also appear in the 5th season. Linda Hamilton plays the role of Dr. Kay, an intelligent and ruthless government agent hunting Eleven. "She is a scientist, but when necessary, she can fight and draw a gun," said Matt Duffer.

Coming Soon

The fifth season of Stranger Things will be released in three parts, with the first part available on November 26 on Netflix.

The mysterious thriller Weapons will be released on the streaming service HBO Max this coming Friday. The film was one of the biggest hits of 2025, grossing $267 million at the worldwide box office after receiving rave reviews.

In Weapons, a star-studded cast including Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan leads the story. The film revolves around the enigmatic disappearance of nearly an entire classroom, which vanishes from the radar exactly at 2:17 AM – with the exception of one child.

Dark Mystery

The community is left with an unanswered puzzle: what exactly happened to the children, and who or what is behind this? The events lead to unrest, speculation, and fear, where nothing is as it seems.

Director Zach Cregger not only directed the film but also wrote the screenplay and produced it. On Rotten Tomatoes, Weapons holds a score of 93 percent after 370 reviews, while IMDb lists it at 7.5/10 based on nearly 200K votes.

HBO Max

With Weapons, HBO Max adds yet another successful film from 2025 to its roster. Other films such as Companion, Superman, Final Destination: Bloodlines, A Minecraft Movie, and Sinners are also waiting for you on the streaming service.