Summary:
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premieres on Netflix on December 12, 2025.
- Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, investigating a mysterious death in an undisclosed setting as of now.
- The cast includes Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Cailee Spaeny, Josh O’Connor, Mila Kunis, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close, and more.
- A teaser released during Netflix’s Tudum event hints at a darker, more emotional chapter. Blanc calls it “the impossible crime.”
Netflix has finally unveiled the first look at Knives Out 3, officially titled Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The teaser, revealed during the Tudum 2025 event, confirms Daniel Craig’s return as detective Benoit Blanc. The trailer hints at a darker, more emotionally driven murder case set inside a cult-like religious commune.
With a global Netflix release date set for December 12, 2025, the third chapter in Rian Johnson’s mystery franchise promises a shift in tone, a fresh ensemble cast, and what may be Blanc’s most personal investigation yet.
Table of Contents
Benoit Blanc Faces His Darkest Case Yet
Daniel Craig returns as the world’s greatest detective, Benoit Blanc, in Wake Up Dead Man, the third film in Rian Johnson’s critically acclaimed murder mystery series. The first trailer dropped during Netflix’s Tudum event and confirmed the film will premiere worldwide on December 12, 2025.
Directed and written once again by Rian Johnson, this new entry places Benoit Blanc inside a remote commune where a ritual death sparks suspicion and secrecy. Blanc narrates over visuals of eerie church interiors and what appears to be a small town, opening with the sentence: “The impossible crime.”
The Ensemble Cast
Rian Johnson continues his tradition of gathering a massive, star-studded cast. Alongside returning crew like cinematographer Steve Yedlin and composer Nathan Johnson, the new cast of characters includes:
- Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc
- Josh Brolin as Msgr. Jefferson Wicks
- Josh O’Connor as Rev. Jud Duplenticy
- Kerry Washington as Vera Draven
- Mila Kunis as Geraldine Scott
- Cailee Spaeny as Simone Vivane
- Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix
- Andrew Scott as Lee Ross
- Jeremy Renner Dr. Nat Sharp
- Thomas Haden Church as Samson Holt
- Daryl McCormack as Cy Draven
In classic Knives Out fashion, every character glimpsed in the teaser could be a suspect. However, the stakes in this whodunit mystery feel more personal and ominous this time. Set against a backdrop of faith, miracles, and secrecy, Wake Up Dead Man teases a murder mystery where the truth may be buried deep, and uncovering it could come at a cost.
A More Personal and Vulnerable Blanc
For the first time in the Knives Out series, Benoit Blanc appears visibly shaken. Gone is the flamboyant Southern sleuth with a taste for flair. The teaser presents a more rugged and sombre version of the detective. In a chilling voice-over, Blanc declares, “This was dressed up as a miracle… but it’s just a murder. And I solve murders.” It’s a stark tonal shift that hints at the darkest and most personal case of his career.
The stakes are no longer just about solving a murder. Blanc appears emotionally invested in the outcome, possibly for reasons the audience will understand once the film is released on Netflix.
Release Date and Netflix Rollout
Knives Out 3: Wake Up Dead Man will release worldwide on Netflix on December 12, 2025.. The project is part of Netflix’s two-sequel deal worth over $400 million with Rian Johnson, following the success of Knives Out and Glass Onion. It is produced by Johnson and Ram Bergman under their T-Street banner. While Netflix has not announced early fan screenings or premieres, the buzz from Tudum suggests a red carpet rollout is likely.
A Reset for the Franchise
While Wake Up Dead Man is the third installment in the series, it marks the beginning of a new era. Rian Johnson has already confirmed that more Benoit Blanc mysteries are to be expected in the future, but this chapter sets a distinct tone compared to the previous entries. It feels more serious, atmospheric, and personal, hinting that Blanc’s journey is far from over, though he’s now entering a more dangerous territory.
Wake Up Dead Man takes Benoit Blanc into uncharted and dangerous territory. With a case steeped in religious mystery and a new cast of complex suspects, this chapter pushes the detective beyond the usual puzzles. The stakes are higher, the tone darker, and the truth may come at a steep price, forcing Blanc to confront not just who committed the crime but what it could cost him to uncover it.
