Netflix has announced the release date and cast for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third film in Rian Johnson’s whodunnit series. Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, and the film debuts globally on Netflix on December 12.
The announcement was made during Netflix’s Tudum 2025 event, which also revealed a brief teaser and first look image of Craig alongside newcomer Josh O’Connor. According to Netflix, this case will be Blanc’s “most dangerous” yet. Watch below.
What Is ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ About?
Plot details are under wraps, but a coffin in the teaser and a grim voiceover from Blanc set a darker tone. Rian Johnson has hinted the story will shift from the previous films’ lighthearted style to something more serious, drawing inspiration from a wider range of classic whodunnit storytelling.
“I love everything about whodunnits, but one of the things I love most is how malleable the genre is. There’s a whole tonal spectrum from Carr to Christie, and getting to explore that range is one of the most exciting things about making Benoit Blanc movies,” Johnson recently posted on X.
Who’s in the Cast?
As always, the Knives Out films feature an ensemble cast. This new “dinner party” of suspects includes:
- Daniel Craig
- Josh O’Connor
- Glenn Close
- Josh Brolin
- Mila Kunis
- Jeremy Renner
- Kerry Washington
- Andrew Scott
- Cailee Spaeny
- Daryl McCormack
- Thomas Haden Church
Renner previously appeared in Glass Onion as a fictional hot sauce brand. This time, he’s on screen for real.
No one expects Josh Brolin #TUDUM pic.twitter.com/3wcORj1qi2
— Netflix (@netflix) June 1, 2025
Title Origin: U2’s Influence
Like the previous titles, Wake Up Dead Man takes its name from a song — this one from U2’s 1997 album Pop. Johnson said the phrase stuck with him from early on, also noting its roots in American folk music.
“Pop is a very underrated album, and that song is very right for the title,” Johnson told Netflix. “But I’ve had ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ in my head for a long while, and I first heard the phrase in American folk music.”
Where Was It Filmed?
Production took place in London and wrapped in summer 2024. Johnson and producer Ram Bergman developed the film through their company T-Street.
Premiere Date
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery hits Netflix worldwide on December 12.
