‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Sends Benoit Blanc Into His Most Personal Case Yet

With Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, writer-director Rian Johnson continues to reinvent the murder mystery. Set to premiere in theaters on November 26 and on Netflix by December 12, the third installment follows detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) into darker, more personal territory.

Each film in the series offers a unique setting and theme. Knives Out (2019) introduced Blanc amid family drama at a New England mansion. Glass Onion (2022) took a satirical jab at tech billionaires on a Greek island. Now, Wake Up Dead Man brings Blanc to a quiet town in upstate New York, where belief, guilt, and morality take center stage.

A Case Rooted in Faith

The story centers on Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a young priest assigned to work with the local monsignor, Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). Their congregation includes a mix of vivid characters—played by Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church, Jeremy Renner, and others. When a murder shatters the community, local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) teams up with Blanc to uncover the truth.

Blanc quickly suspects that what looks like a miracle is something else entirely. “This was dressed as a miracle,” he says. “It’s just a murder. And I solve murders.”

A Gothic Tone and Literary Roots

Unlike the bright, modern aesthetic of Glass Onion, this film returns to the genre’s gothic origins. “It’s closer to Knives Out, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe more than Agatha Christie,” Johnson explains. The setting—a towering stone chapel surrounded by graveyards—adds to the atmosphere. Production designer Rick Heinrichs built the chapel, while cinematographer Steve Yedlin, composer Nathan Johnson, costume designer Jenny Eagan, and editor Bob Ducsay completed the film’s haunting style.

A Shift in Focus

Although Craig’s Blanc remains the series’ anchor, Johnson reminds viewers that Blanc isn’t always the central character. “The secret is that Blanc is never the true protagonist,” he says. “This time, it’s Jud who has real skin in the game.”

Actor Josh O’Connor brings emotional depth to the role. “Rian’s both a brilliant writer and director,” O’Connor notes. “It’s rare to see both talents in one person. He’s incredibly kind, smart, funny, and patient.”

A Star-Studded Ensemble

As with the previous entries, Wake Up Dead Man features an A-list cast. Casting directors Mary Vernieu and Bret Howe helped Johnson assemble another standout lineup. “Every day on set, I’d look around and think, ‘How did we talk these people into this?’” Johnson says. “It’s the chemistry that makes it so much fun to create.”

Release Schedule

The film will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6 and will open the BFI London Film Festival on October 8. The theatrical release begins November 26, followed by its Netflix debut on December 12.

Stay tuned for updates on Wake Up Dead Man at Tudum.

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