‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ First Look: Daniel Craig Returns for His Most Dangerous Case Yet

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Jan 30

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Daniel Craig’s Next Case Unveiled

Netflix has unveiled the first look at Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the highly anticipated third entry in Rian Johnson’s critically acclaimed whodunit franchise. The newly released image features Daniel Craig reprising his role as the enigmatic Southern detective Benoit Blanc, standing inside a towering cathedral alongside Josh O’Connor (Challengers). The setting, shrouded in mystery, teases another elaborate and possibly more perilous investigation for Blanc.

The film marks the latest installment in the Knives Out series, following the massive success of 2019’s Knives Out and 2022’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. With Wake Up Dead Man, Johnson promises to up the ante, describing it as “Blanc’s most dangerous case yet.” As with its predecessors, the standalone murder mystery boasts an all-star ensemble cast, including Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.

While plot details remain tightly guarded, the film’s title hints at deeper themes or references. Wake Up Dead Man takes its name from a song on U2’s 1997 album Pop, known for its dark and reflective lyrics. Whether the song’s themes of betrayal, mortality, or redemption play into the mystery remains to be seen, but Johnson is no stranger to weaving subtle cultural references into his films.

Since his introduction in 2019’s Knives Out, Benoit Blanc has become one of the most beloved detective characters in modern cinema. Inspired by the likes of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, Blanc’s mix of eccentric charm, razor-sharp deduction skills, and Southern-fried wisdom has captivated audiences worldwide. His first case revolved around the death of a famous crime novelist (Christopher Plummer) and the tangled web of his deceitful family, played by an ensemble that included Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film grossed over $312 million worldwide and earned Johnson an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Netflix then secured an exclusive deal with Johnson and producer Ram Bergman for two Knives Out sequels, leading to the release of Glass Onion in 2022. This time, Blanc was invited to a secluded private island by a tech billionaire (Edward Norton), where another high-stakes murder took place among a group of scheming elites. The film received widespread acclaim and a limited theatrical release before launching on Netflix.

For Wake Up Dead Man, Johnson has hinted at a fresh take on the murder mystery format, suggesting a shift in tone and stakes. “We’ve been very lucky with each of these movies to have gathered some of my favorite actors on the planet,” he said in a statement.

One lingering question remains: will Wake Up Dead Man receive a broader theatrical release than Glass Onion? While the previous film had a one-week exclusive theatrical window before its streaming debut, Daniel Craig has expressed his hopes for a more traditional cinema rollout this time around.

“Hopefully, Netflix will push it out a bit, and people will get to see it. The people I speak to — the fans, I suppose — all they want to do is take their families and go see it at the cinemas. That’s all they want to do. Hopefully, we can give them that experience,” Craig told Variety.

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Netflix has yet to confirm whether it will expand its theatrical distribution model, but with the ongoing conversation around the viability of streaming-exclusive releases, Wake Up Dead Man could become a test case for the platform’s evolving strategy.

With three Knives Out films now in existence, the question arises: will this be the final case for Benoit Blanc, or will Johnson continue the franchise beyond Netflix’s current two-sequel deal?

Johnson has previously stated that he views Knives Out as an ongoing series of standalone mysteries, much like Agatha Christie’s Poirot novels. As long as Craig remains invested in the role and the appetite for high-quality whodunits persists, there’s no reason to believe Blanc won’t return for more cerebral crime-solving adventures in the future.

For now, all eyes are on Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which is set to premiere on Netflix in Fall 2025.

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