After two very successful murder mysteries full of unusual suspects, clever humour, and plenty of twists to keep viewers guessing until the end, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is bringing detective Benoit Blanc back for another case. Daniel Craig returns as the well-dressed investigator, taking on one of the most fun roles of his career after Bond. This new part of the Knives Out series is again written and directed by award-nominated filmmaker Rian Johnson, who continues to grow the franchise with a brand-new mystery and a cast of suspicious characters.

Netflix has officially announced that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will debut on December 12, 2025, with a limited theatrical run a few weeks earlier in November. After the success of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, fans have been looking forward to the third film, especially after Netflix released the first teaser and hinted at a darker tone for Blanc’s next case. While the earlier films combined murder with satirical humour and light comedy, this new one already feels more serious and moody.

And naturally, it wouldn’t be a Knives Out film without another stacked ensemble cast full of familiar faces, rising stars, and actors who immediately look guilty the second they appear on screen. So before Benoit Blanc begins untangling his next murder mystery, here’s everything we know so far about Knives Out 3.

Netflix finally released the first full trailer for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, and it’s clear this movie is much darker than Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The bright villas, luxury yachts, and colourful party scenes are gone. This time, everything feels colder, quieter, and more disturbing, with candlelit churches, foggy graveyards, and long, dark hallways filling the scenes. Even Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc looks more serious than usual, as if he already knows this case will have a bad ending for someone.

According to the official summary, Blanc arrives in a small town in upstate New York, where a young priest, Jud Duplentis, played by Josh O’Connor, has been sent to assist the local priest, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, played by Josh Brolin. Around them is a strong cast, including Glenn Close, Thomas Haden Church, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, and Cailee Spaeny, all of whom seem to be hiding something.

Of course, things get out of control when a seemingly impossible murder shocks the town, and Blanc is drawn into another complex investigation with local police chief Geraldine Scott, played by Mila Kunis. The trailer does a great job of making everyone look suspicious. No one seems trustworthy, every conversation feels tense, and there is a constant feeling that something is seriously wrong beneath the surface.

What stands out most is how much the trailer focuses on mood instead of fast-paced comedy. Writer and director Rian Johnson has said the film is inspired by older Gothic mystery stories, especially the darker works of Edgar Allan Poe. That influence is clear in the trailer, from the dark visuals to the much heavier tone compared to the earlier films.

Johnson also said the film’s style is purposely more gothic and realistic than the earlier Benoit Blanc mysteries. Much of the story takes place inside a large stone chapel designed by Rick Heinrichs, with cinematographer Steve Yedlin using deep shadows and candlelight in the scenes. Talking about the setting, Johnson said: “Themes of guilt, mystery, morality, and fallible humanity all feel right at home in a church, with a man of God in the centre of the mix.”

The filmmaker also discussed why faith became a central part of the story. “I have strong feelings about faith: both from my own experience and how it connects with our country’s culture and public life, and how that connection affects all of us in different ways. So it seemed like a good topic for a story,” Johnson said. And honestly, just from the trailer, Wake Up Dead Man already feels like Benoit Blanc’s most disturbing case yet.

Like the previous Knives Out films, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery once again brings together a massive ensemble cast, packed with familiar faces, award winners, rising stars, and actors who look suspicious the second they appear on screen. Daniel Craig returns as detective Benoit Blanc, stepping back into one of his most loved roles alongside names like Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Andrew Scott, and Jeremy Renner.

One of the most important new additions appears to be Josh O’Connor as Jud Duplenticy, a young priest who becomes deeply tied to the film’s central mystery. According to writer and director Rian Johnson, O’Connor’s character actually acts as the emotional centre of the story rather than Blanc himself. “The secret to each one of these movies is that Benoit Blanc is not the main character of these films. There’s always a protagonist who has some real stakes and skin in the game,” Johnson explained. “Josh’s character Jud is that character in this movie.”

Here’s every confirmed cast member for ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ so far:

• Detective Benoit Blanc — played by Daniel Craig
• Jud Duplenticy — played by Josh O’Connor
• Monsignor Jefferson Wicks — played by Josh Brolin
• Martha Delacroix — played by Glenn Close
• Police Chief Geraldine Scott — played by Mila Kunis
• Nat Sharp — played by Jeremy Renner
• Vera Draven — played by Kerry Washington
• Lee Ross — played by Andrew Scott
• Simone Vivane — played by Cailee Spaeny
• Cy Draven — played by Daryl McCormack
• Samson Holt — played by Thomas Haden Church

Johnson also spoke about how much the cast dynamic matters behind the scenes in these films. “Every single day on set with this ensemble, I would blink and be astounded that we talked these people into showing up,” the filmmaker said. “The experience of making these movies and the chemistry between these incredible actors is the key to why we love doing them. You get great actors together, you let them hang out, and games will ensue.”

Netflix has officially confirmed that ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ will arrive on the streaming platform on December 12, 2025. The announcement was shared through Netflix’s Tudum publication alongside the film’s first official trailer, finally giving audiences a proper look at Benoit Blanc’s next murder mystery.

Fans don’t have to wait until December to see the film. Netflix said ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ will be in some theatres starting November 26, then available for streaming a few weeks after. Because this new movie seems moodier and darker, watching it in theatres might be the best way to enjoy Blanc’s latest case.

The upcoming film marks the third chapter in Rian Johnson’s hugely successful Knives Out franchise, following Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. And honestly, based on everything shown so far, this may end up being Benoit Blanc’s darkest case yet.

What started as a clever murder mystery with Daniel Craig speaking in a very strong Southern accent somehow became one of the most popular detective series in recent years. When Knives Out premiered in 2019, no one expected it to become so popular, but viewers quickly connected with its mix of sharp writing, dark humour, family drama, and classic whodunit storytelling. Along with Craig’s Benoit Blanc, the film had a large cast, including Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Michael Shannon, and Toni Collette, all playing characters who seemed suspicious at some point.

Then came ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’, which replaced dark mansions with billionaire tech culture, luxury islands, and satire about the internet age. The sequel still had many fun moments and a strong cast, including Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, and Kathryn Hahn, but it focused more on social commentary and over-the-top characters. Some people found that more enjoyable. Others missed the more focused murder-mystery style of the first film.

That’s probably why Wake Up ‘Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ already feels so interesting. From what we’ve seen so far, the new film seems to be moving back toward a darker, more classic mystery, with Benoit Blanc looking into what he calls his “most personal” case yet. With the church setting, gothic mood, and deeper themes about right and wrong and faith, this one already feels very different from the bright chaos of Glass Onion.

Rian Johnson has also explained that he never wanted these movies to repeat themselves. Speaking earlier this year, Johnson said one of the things he loves most about Agatha Christie was how she constantly changed the style and tone of her mysteries, rather than sticking to one formula. That idea became the blueprint for Benoit Blanc’s stories, too, with each movie feeling like its own separate mystery rather than another chapter repeating the exact same structure.

If you asked us, that’s probably the smartest choice this series has made. Every Benoit Blanc movie still feels connected, but each one has its own style, setting, and vibe. Instead of sticking to the same mystery over and over, the series keeps trying something new every time Blanc comes to solve another murder.

Part of what keeps the Knives Out movies so entertaining is that Rian Johnson never lets them feel too similar to each other. Every Benoit Blanc mystery changes the setting, characters, and overall mood, rather than repeating the same formula. Speaking about the franchise previously, Daniel Craig explained: “What Rian’s movies do best is subvert the genre. You start off thinking you’re watching an old-fashioned sort of Agatha Christie-type mystery — but then it shifts, and you realize you’re watching something entirely different.” That approach has helped the series avoid staleness, especially now that audiences know Blanc can end up anywhere and solve almost any kind of murder.

With Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery arriving in cinemas this November before landing on Netflix in December, people are already wondering how many more cases Benoit Blanc still has left in him. The upcoming movie also finishes Johnson’s huge Netflix deal, which reportedly cost around USD $450 million. Still, both Johnson and Craig have said they’re happy to keep making more mysteries together, so long as they’re both involved. Honestly, considering how popular Blanc has become, it would be surprising if Netflix didn’t try to keep the series going.

And if Johnson’s previous ideas are anything to go by, the future of the franchise could get very strange—in the best way possible. The filmmaker has openly talked about concepts ranging from a Benoit Blanc Christmas special to a mystery movie featuring The Muppets as the supporting cast. Ridiculous? Absolutely. But at this point, that unpredictable energy has become part of what makes these movies so fun to watch.