Los Angeles [US], June 1: Detective Benoit Blanc is back, and so is the intrigue. Daniel Craig is officially returning to solve “the impossible crime” in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third installment of Rian Johnson’s acclaimed murder mystery franchise.
Netflix unveiled the first footage of the film on Saturday, featuring Craig and a star-studded ensemble including:
- Josh Brolin
- Mila Kunis
- Jeremy Renner
- Josh O’Connor
- Kerry Washington
- Andrew Scott
- Cailee Spaeny
- Daryl McCormack
- Thomas Haden Church
Fans were treated to surprise appearances by the cast, with stars firing T-shirt guns into the crowd and Glenn Close even dropping an f-bomb via video. Craig appeared in person to hype up the film, delivering the chilling line from the teaser:
“The impossible crime… This is the Holy Grail.”
Directed by Rian Johnson, Wake Up Dead Man is set for release on December 12, 2025, positioning it right in the heart of awards season. Johnson, who has already earned two Oscar nominations for the Knives Out films—best original screenplay (2019) and best adapted screenplay (2022’s Glass Onion)—is expected to continue his awards streak.
A Stellar Franchise Legacy
The original Knives Out (2019), distributed by Lionsgate, featured an ensemble including Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ana de Armas, and was a surprise box office and critical smash. Its success paved the way for Netflix’s blockbuster acquisition, which led to 2022’s Glass Onion, starring Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, and Edward Norton.
Wake Up Dead Man marks the third and final film under Netflix’s massive deal with Rian Johnson and his producing partner Ram Bergman.
Mark your calendars: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premieres globally on Netflix, December 12, 2025.