Rian Johnson explains the superpower possessed by Natasha Lyonne's character in Poker Face. Shortly after writing and directing Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, a sequel to his hit whodunit from 2019, Rian Johnson is returning with another murder mystery project in Poker Face starring Russian Doll's Natasha Lyonne. Glass Onion actually included a reference to the Peacock series as, early on in the sequel, Lyonne is one of several celebrities playing Among Us over Zoom with Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc in the bathtub.
During a recent interview with Lyonne's lead character in Poker Face, who is named Charlie Cale and possesses an infallible ability to tell if someone is lying. Asked if Charlie’s ability to detect lies counts as a superpower, the Poker Face creator debated the question before settling on yes, saying "it’s definitely superhuman." Read Johnson's full explanation below:
Where do you draw the line? It’s like the Asimov thing of any significant scientific advancement is indistinguishable from magic. And in that case, I don’t know. What’s the difference between just having something baked in the back of your brain that can pick up subtle little things that trigger that, and quote-unquote ESP? So I don’t know how to answer that question. I don’t know. I mean, it’s definitely superhuman. In that, it’s beyond reality in of what humans can do, but it’s also something that’s weirdly plausible.
Everything We Know About Poker Face
Poker Face is a case-of-the-week mystery series centered on Lyonne's Charlie Cale who, as Rian Johnson explains, has an extraordinary ability to tell if someone is lying. Instead of following a whodunit format like the Knives Out film series, each Poker Face episode follows a "howcatchem" format, otherwise known as an inverted detective story popularized by shows like Columbo. The Peacock series follows Charlie on the run in her Plymouth Barracuda as she encounters a motley crew of characters and crimes she can't help but solve using her skills as a former casino worker.
As a character-driven case-of-the-week mystery series, Poker Face will feature a revolving door of recognizable guest stars, including Stephanie Hsu, Jameela Jamil, Hong Chau, Simon Helberg, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson, Luis Guzmán, Rhea Perlman, and Lil Rel Howery. Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody and Benjamin Bratt seemingly star in recurring roles as the casino's boss and head of security respectively. Like just about every Rian Johnson project, Poker Face features appearances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Noah Segan.
The mastermind behind Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the Knives Out film series, Rian Johnson created Poker Face, though Nora and Lilla Zuckerman serve as the primary showrunners. In addition to creating and producing the mystery series, Johnson is taking a hands-on approach with Poker Face by writing and directing several episodes himself. This includes the series premiere titled "Dead Man's Hand," one of four Poker Face episodes premiering on Peacock on January 26, which will be followed by weekly airings on Thursday for the remainder of the 10-episode first season.
Source: Gizmodo