Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, or simply Wake Up Dead Man, is an upcoming American mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson. It is a standalone sequel to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) and the third installment overall in the Knives Out film series. It stars Daniel Craig, who reprises his role as master detective Benoit Blanc.[1][2] The ensemble cast also includes Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.

Wake Up Dead Man
Official logo
Directed byRian Johnson
Written byRian Johnson
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySteve Yedlin
Edited byBob Ducsay
Music byNathan Johnson
Production
company
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • 2025 (2025)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2025.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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Before the release of Knives Out (2019), Rian Johnson said he would like to create sequels with Detective Benoit Blanc investigating further mysteries, and already had an idea for a new film.[3] On March 31, 2021, it was reported that Netflix bought the rights to two Knives Out sequels for over $400 million.[4]

Writing

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In June 2022, Johnson revealed that Knives Out 3 was a working title with his intent being that each film has a distinct title, citing the works of Agatha Christie as his inspiration for the films and the individual titles.[5] In November 2022, Johnson said that he was preparing to work on writing the third film.[6] By January 2023, Johnson confirmed that he had started writing the script for the third film, stating that it will be tonally and thematically different from the previous installments.[7] Johnson later stated that though he had approved the subtitle of A Knives Out Mystery for the previous installment, he would like to rename the series and add A Benoit Blanc Mystery as subtitles to future installments.[8]

In October 2023, following the resolution of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, Johnson announced that he had started working on the script for the third movie. The filmmaker stated that he had the premise planned, and could begin writing again.[9]

Casting

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Daniel Craig was expected to reprise his role early in development; he acknowledged interest in returning early on during the project's development.[10] Craig was paid $100 million for his involvement in the two Knives Out sequels.[11] In May 2024, Josh O'Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, and Daryl McCormack joined the main cast.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The following month, Josh Brolin and Thomas Haden Church joined the cast.[19][20]

Filming

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As with the previous two films, Steve Yedlin and Nathan Johnson returned as cinematographer and composer, respectively.[21][22] Principal photography began on June 10, 2024, in London.[12][23][24][25] On June 19, 2024, Close revealed that she was "really hit hard" with both COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which was also revealed to have resulted in her being able to only participate in two days of filming by that point in time.[26][27] Filming wrapped on August 17.[28]

Release

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Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2025.[29][30]

Future

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In September 2022, Johnson confirmed his intention to make more films in the series.[31] Later that month, Craig and Johnson separately said that they would continue making further films, as long as the fans like it and ask for it.[32]

References

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  1. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 31, 2021). "Netflix Near $400M+ Deal For 'Knives Out' 2 & 3; Daniel Craig & Director Rian Johnson Reprising". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - Knives Out 3". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Knives Out: Director Rian Johnson Interview". youtube.com. November 22, 2019. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Lang, Brent; Donnelly, Matt (March 31, 2021). "Netflix Buys 'Knives Out' Sequels for $450 Million". Variety. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  5. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 13, 2022). "Rian Johnson Unveils Title Of 'Knives Out' Sequel". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  6. ^ Wise, Damon (November 23, 2022). "'Glass Onion': Rian Johnson, Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe & Edward Norton Reveal The Secrets Of The 'Knives Out' Franchise & Tease Part 3". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  7. ^ Laffly, Tomris (January 9, 2023). "Rian Johnson Talks Agatha Christie Inspiration, 'Knives Out 3′ Plans and Screenwriting Success". Variety. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Libbey, Dirk (January 23, 2023). "Rian Johnson Wants To Make A Key Change To The Knives Out Franchise After Glass Onion". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Taylor, Drew (October 13, 2023). "'Fair Play' on T-Street: How 'The Date Movie From Hell' Was Born - Digital Cover". The Wrap. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  10. ^ Sinha-Roy, Piya; Keegan, Rebecca (January 5, 2020). "'Knives Out' Sequel in the Works, Story to Center on Daniel Craig's Detective Character". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  11. ^ Donnelly, Matt (August 18, 2021). "From Daniel Craig to Dwayne Johnson, Inside the Biggest Movie Stars' Salaries". Variety. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (May 27, 2024). "Josh O'Connor And Cailee Spaeny Join Daniel Craig In Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (May 28, 2024). "Andrew Scott Joins 'Knives Out 3' Cast (EXCLUSIVE)". Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 29, 2024). "Kerry Washington Joins Daniel Craig In 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  15. ^ Kit, Borys (May 29, 2024). "Glenn Close Joins Daniel Craig in 'Knives Out 3' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  16. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 30, 2024). "Jeremy Renner Joins Daniel Craig In 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  17. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 30, 2024). "Mila Kunis Latest Addition To 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' Ensemble". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  18. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (May 31, 2024). "'Knives Out 3' Adds 'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande' Star Daryl McCormack to Cast (EXCLUSIVE)". Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  19. ^ Kit, Borys (June 3, 2024). "Josh Brolin Joins Daniel Craig in 'Knives Out 3' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  20. ^ Schruer, Brandon (June 4, 2024). "Knives Out 3 Cast Adds Spider-Man's Thomas Haden Church". Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  21. ^ "Steve Yedlin, ASC" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  22. ^ "Nathan Johnson to Return for Rian Johnson's 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery'". Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  23. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 25, 2024). "'Knives Out' T-Street Partners Rian Johnson & Ram Bergman Tap Katie McNeill To Join As Producer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  24. ^ Rian Johnson [@rianjohnson] (June 10, 2024). "Aaaaand we're off! Today is day 1 of shooting on the next Benoit Blanc mystery "Wake Up Dead Man" - see you on the other side" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "Daniel Craig Debuts Long Hair in 'Knives Out 3' First Look". Variety. June 10, 2024. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  26. ^ Rosenbloom, Alli (June 19, 2024). "Glenn Close 'hit hard' with Covid and RSV at same time, forced to delay filming 'Knives Out 3'". CNN. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  27. ^ "Actor Glenn Close 'hit hard' with COVID and RSV". Fox 11 Los Angeles. June 19, 2024. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  28. ^ "'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' Just Got an Incredible Filming Update". August 17, 2024. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  29. ^ PTI (May 31, 2024). "Rian Johnson's 'Knives Out' 3 adds Mila Kunis". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  30. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (May 24, 2024). "'Knives Out 3' Title Revealed as 'Wake Up Dead Man'; Rian Johnson Confirms 2025 Release". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  31. ^ Rubin, Rebecca; Sharf, Zack (September 10, 2022). "Daniel Craig and Rian Johnson Tease More Knives Out After Twisty, Fun Glass Onion Slays Toronto Film Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  32. ^ Dick, Jeremy (September 11, 2022). "Daniel Craig and Rian Johnson Don't Want to Ever Stop Making Knives Out Movies". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
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