A notable connection has been discovered between the filming locations of the latest Knives Out installment, Wake Up Dead Man, and the music video for Rick Astley’s 1987 hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Director Rian Johnson recently confirmed on social media platform Bluesky that a scene in Wake Up Dead Man was shot at the same location where Astley’s classic music video was filmed.
The location in question is the Harrow Club in London, a former church that has been repurposed for various events and film shoots. Johnson revealed that he was the only person on set who was excited about the connection, and even played the song on his phone, but was met with blank stares from the rest of the crew.
For those unfamiliar, “Rickrolling” was a popular internet prank that involved tricking people into watching the music video for “Never Gonna Give You Up” by sharing a link to it under false pretenses. The prank, which originated nearly 20 years ago, was a lighthearted and harmless joke that became a staple of early internet culture.
The connection between the two filming locations is a interesting example of the overlap between different forms of media and the ways in which cultural references can be shared and reused. The fact that the same location was used for both a classic music video and a modern film scene highlights the enduring appeal of certain locations and the creative ways in which they can be repurposed.
The revelation about the shared filming location has sparked interest among fans of both the Knives Out series and Rick Astley’s music. While the connection may not have been a major factor in the production of Wake Up Dead Man, it adds an extra layer of depth and cultural significance to the film. As the internet and social media continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how other examples of cultural overlap and reference are discovered and shared.