Glass Onion continued Benoit Blanc’s (Daniel Craig) story in a smash-hit sequel, and now a third film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, is on the way. Writer and director Rian Johnson has turned 2019’s Knives Out into a modern whodunit franchise, complete with a rotating cast of Hollywood stars. Glass Onion saw Craig joined by the likes of Janelle Monáe, Edward Norton, Dave Bautista, and Kate Hudson for a weekend murder mystery that goes very, very wrong. Knives Out 2 was just as good as the original, setting up a promising third installment.
Much like Knives Out before it, Glass Onion is another mystery that’s full of different layers, each one being peeled back to reveal a new surprise. With the death of Bautista’s Duke Cody and the shock of Andi’s (Monáe) own death and her twin sister replacing her, it certainly lives up to the onion part of its name. With another Benoit Blanc case in the books, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will have to try and top it. Despite a lengthy delay, the franchise moves forward with plenty of Wake Up Dead Man updates.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Latest News
Filming Wraps On The Threequel
Though the movie was only in production for a few months, the latest update confirms that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery has wrapped filming. With the next installment shrouded in mystery, director and writer Rian Johnson took to his official Instagram account to share a BTS photo and to announce that production was completed. The image shows a sign warning the cast and crew to “Please be mindful of the graves“ and sits in front of a host of seemingly old gravestones. In the caption, Johnson thanked his cast and crew, and expressed his enthusiasm to begin editing.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Is Confirmed
Netflix Guaranteed Another Sequel
Johnson and Craig have both said they’re open to more beyond that, which means
Wake Up Dead Man
might not be Blanc’s last case.
The fate of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery was never really in any doubt, and the film was officially confirmed when Netflix struck a deal with Rian Johnson. That deal guaranteed Netflix at least two Knives Out sequels, meaning Wake Up Dead Man was going to be made (barring a late twist not even Benoit Blanc would see coming). Johnson and Craig have both said they’re open to more beyond that, which means Wake Up Dead Man might not be Blanc’s last case.
Wake Up Dead Man wrapped filming in August 2024.
Related
Knives Out: 20 Hidden Details You Missed In The Film
Knives Out is a great modern whodunnit murder mystery. The story is funny and smart, and there are certainly some interesting details you missed.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Cast
Daniel Craig Returns As Benoit Blanc
The first name attached to the cast of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery was Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc. His involvement was a condition of Netflix’s purchase of Knives Out sequels, so it would take something major for him not to come back. Not long after the movie was formally announced, Josh O’Connor (Challengers) and Cailee Spaeny (Civil War) joined the ensemble, but their roles are being kept under wraps. Fleabag star Andrew Scott has also joined the cast in an undisclosed role.
The list of suspects continues to grow as 8-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction) has been cast in an unnamed role, and she is joined by multi-faceted performer Kerry Washington (Scandal). Shortly after, MCU star Jeremy Renner (Mayor of Kingstown) was announced, marking his first major film role since a life-threatening injury he suffered in 2023. Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men) has been tapped to appear in the upcoming murder mystery, as has Mila Kunis (Black Swan).
The known cast of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery includes:
|
Actor |
Wake Up Dead Man Role |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Daniel Cragi |
Benoit Blanc |
 |
|
Josh O’Connor |
Unknown |
 |
|
Glenn Close |
Unknown |
 |
|
Josh Brolin |
Unknown |
 |
|
Mila Kunis |
Unknown |
 |
|
Jeremy Renner |
Unknown |
 |
|
Kerry Washington |
Unknown |
 |
|
Andrew Scott |
Unknown |
 |
|
Cailee Spaeny |
Unknown |
 |
|
Daryl McCormack |
Unknown |
 |
|
Thomas Haden Church |
Unknown |
 |
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Story
Did Glass Onion Tease A Sequel?
Glass Onion‘s ending does not directly set up Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, much the same way as Knives Out didn’t set up Glass Onion. The entries are, in classic whodunit fashion, all made to be standalone movies, so it will be a brand-new case for Benoit Blanc to solve. That will make for an exciting challenge for Wake Up Dead Man’s story, which needs to craft another mystery that feels fresh, clever, and surprising for both the detective and audiences, though, presumably, it will be another murder.
Johnson has said he wants Knives Out 3 to be completely different although it is still sure to stick with the murder mystery element of the previous movies. The Wake Up Dead Man story could also focus more on Blanc’s home life, especially if Grant returns: it was fleshed out a little more in Glass Onion, and feels ripe for further exploration. It’ll also be interesting to see how Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery continues the series’ examination of wealth and status after Knives Out tackled old money and class and Glass Onion’s new, tech bro money.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)
World-renowned detective Benoit Blanc returns in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The film will follow a new cast surrounding the detective as he attempts to solve another strange case.
- Studio(s)
- T-Street Productions
- Distributor(s)
- Netflix
- Franchise(s)
- Knives Out
