While a dedicated contingent of petulant… I mean dedicated… fans continue to debate about his job helming Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson fans can get excited as his next major project has been announced. In the footsteps of his hit whodunit Knives Out, Johnson will partner with producer Maya Rudolph and actress Natasha Lyonne on the mystery procedural Poker Face. The series was just announced as a full season pick-up by Peacock with Johnson set to write and direct the case-of-the-week series alongside Lyonne who serves as a producer as well as the star.
The details of Poker Face remain unknown beyond the fact that it will be an hour-long mystery in the vein of the genre that started Johnson's career with the film Brick. No start date was given for production of the series but Johnson had this to say about the project:
“I’m very excited to dig into the type of fun, character-driven, case-of-the-week mystery goodness I grew up watching. It’s my happy place. Having Natasha as a partner in crime is a dream, and we’ve found the perfect home at Peacock.”
Johnson was nominated for an Academy Award for his work writing Knives Out and his resume speaks for itself with acclaimed films like The Brothers Bloom and Looper under his belt. Johnson is still working on his own Star Wars trilogy as well as a sequel to Knives Out. Natasha Lyonne is currently in production on the second season of her hit Netflix series Russian Doll.
“Rian Johnson’s distinct sensibility and talent for telling edge-of-your-seat mysteries is a massive gift for Peacock, and we can’t wait for audiences to delve into each case,” said Lisa Katz, President, Scripted Content, NBCUniversal Television, and Streaming. “Paired with the acting genius of Natasha Lyonne, this series will be entertaining and addictive.”
“Rian is a gifted writer and director who draws you in with his unique approach to mystery and we’re so proud to partner with him, and Ram, and to have Natasha Lyonne as our lead, and land this phenomenal show at Peacock with a talented team,” MRC Television President Elise Henderson said.
It's obvious that Johnson's Poker Face is playing with a full deck. I'm excited to hear more about this project, particularly who joins the cast. If Johnson can load his hand with A-list stars, we could be in for one hell of a game.
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