Wake Up Dead Man Trailer Unveils Dark New Knives Out Mystery
Netflix and Rian Johnson pull back the curtain on the gothic third chapter of the Knives Out saga, introducing Benoit Blanc’s most haunting case yet.
The first official teaser for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery has arrived, giving audiences a glimpse into the darker, more gothic direction of the acclaimed franchise. Directed, written, and produced by Rian Johnson under T-Street Productions, the film continues Netflix’s partnership with the series following its record-breaking acquisition of two sequels.
Daniel Craig reprises his role as master detective Benoit Blanc, now confronting what is described as his most personal and unsettling case. This time, Blanc investigates the mysterious death of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, played by Josh Brolin, whose body is discovered sealed inside a concrete box. The teaser highlights the film’s tagline of a “holy mystery” and “impossible crime,” raising the stakes beyond anything seen in the previous two entries.
The ensemble cast is stacked with talent. Alongside Craig and Brolin, the film features Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix, Josh O’Connor as Rev. Jud Duplenticy, Mila Kunis as local police chief Geraldine Scott, Jeremy Renner as Dr. Nat Sharp, Kerry Washington as Vera Draven, Andrew Scott as Lee Ross, Cailee Spaeny as Simone Vivane, Daryl McCormack as Cy Draven, and Thomas Haden Church as Samson Holt. Each character is teased as having their own secrets, fitting the franchise’s tradition of complex motives.
Thematically, Wake Up Dead Man signals a major tonal shift for the series. While Knives Out leaned into a cozy whodunit and Glass Onion offered a sunlit satire, this third installment embraces gothic mystery, religion, and morality. The visuals lean toward shadow and solemnity, promising an introspective dive into the limits of truth and faith, while keeping the sharp dialogue and puzzle-box plotting fans expect.
Netflix continues its hybrid release strategy with this film. Following a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, Wake Up Dead Man will open in select theaters on November 26, 2025. Just weeks later, the movie will be available for streaming on Netflix starting December 12, ensuring global accessibility during the holiday season.
The release model mirrors that of Glass Onion, balancing the prestige of theatrical exposure with the broad reach of streaming. The question remains whether Netflix can build on the momentum of the previous entries, both critically and culturally, while redefining the murder mystery genre for today’s audience.
For viewers eager to dive into the next chapter, the teaser titled “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery | Official Teaser” sets the stage with ominous imagery and tantalizing glimpses of Blanc’s new adversaries. The promise of an “impossible crime” ensures that theories will swirl until the film’s release.
