You Can Solve On-Screen Mysteries by Looking at a Character’s Cell Phone
Did you know that Apple hates movie villains? Rian Johnson, a famed producer and director, revealed the company’s distaste for the “bad guy” back in 2020, and now other industry insiders are confirming it. The Knives Out director might be well known for his mystery flicks, but he gave away a big secret. In 2020, Johnson gave fans an insider tip on how to identify a villain in movies and TV shows. He suggested they look at their cell phones.
Rian Johnson said fans can spot a villain by looking at their phone
Movie mysteries are easy for fans to solve if they know one trick. At least, that’s what Rian Johnson thinks. The famed filmmakers revealed that a movie’s villain is unlikely to carry an iPhone or use a MacBook. During a 2020 chat with Vanity Fair, Johnson revealed that Apple is extremely careful about how its products are used in movies or TV shows.
According to Johnson, the electronics company refuses to allow its devices to be used by villains or during the commission of crimes. Because of these restrictions, Johnson claims, fans can easily decipher who the “bad guy” is in a mystery movie or TV show because they will be the only characters not using an iPhone.
While the phone trick could work, filmmakers can keep up the suspense by simply not using any Apple products in a movie or film. It is unclear if Samsung has any such clause. Still, he claims fans should keep an eye on what brands are being used by what characters if they’d like to solve a mystery ahead of the big reveal.
A property manager confirmed Johnson’s revelation
Johnson isn’t the only person discussing Apple’s very strict rules regarding the use of its products. Heidi Koleto, who has worked as a property master and assistant property master on shows like Julia and Euphoria, spoke about Apple during a recent podcast appearance.
During an appearance on Wrap Drinks, Koleto said Apple won’t allow its products to be used in negative scenes. They refuse product placement in scenes that show criminal behavior. Koletto said scenes centering around driving drunk, crashing cars, and criminal behavior can not feature Apple products. The admission lines up with what Johnson revealed years earlier.
Peleton probably wishes they had the same clause
Apple’s rule might seem restrictive, but companies have been burned when their products were placed in negative scenes in the past. If a product is used in a negative light, it can negatively impact the company as a whole. Peleton, the exercise equipment company, learned that lesson the hard way in 2021.
In December 2021, Peloton’s stock prices tumbled over 11% after And Just Like That.., the Sex and the City reboot, depicted Mr. Big dying from a heart attack following a strenuous Peloton ride. The company went into crisis mode and issued several statements about the scene. In the end, Peleton admitted that they granted the production team the right to use Peleton. They never asked how it would be used. At the time, the company did not limit the storylines its products could appear in.
