Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery release date, trailer, cast, plot, and everything else we know about the Netflix movie

Jud Duplenticy leaning towards Benoit Blanc from the backseat of a car in Knives Out 3.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – key information

- Set to be released in mid-December
- Will launch exclusively on Netflix
- Written and directed by Rian Johnson
- Trailers released in September and November
- Daniel Craig returning as Benoit Blanc
- Ensemble cast of A-listers set to join Craig
- Plot synopsis revealed
- No word on whether a fourth Knives Out movie will be made
- Johnson wants to make more Knives Out films "forever"

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is almost here. The second case that Benoit Blanc must solve will make its Netflix bow on December 12, so there's not long left until the whodunit film franchise's next installment arrives.

Before it does, you'll want to pore over all of the evidence we've accumulated about it. Luckily for you, this guide contains a case file's worth of information on Knives Out 3, including its trailers, cast, story details, and the movie series' future.

Want a flavor of what to expect? Check out our Knives Out 3 review, which called the franchise's best entry yet, too. Otherwise, read on to learn more about the forthcoming Netflix Movie Original.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery release date

Not all secrets can stay buried.Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is in select theaters November 26 and on Netflix December 12. pic.twitter.com/D1e88r7UwISeptember 2, 2025

Knives Out 3 will launch on Netflix, aka the world's best streaming service on December 12.

Ahead of being confirmed at Tudum 2025, Netflix detectives solved the mystery of Wake Up, Dead Man's release date days before said event. So, we always knew it would premiere on that date.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery trailer

The first teaser for Knives Out 3 landed online on September 8 and heavily implied it'll be Benoit Blanc's trickiest and most dangerous cast yet.

Over two months later, Wake Up, Dead Man's official trailer dropped online and gave us an even clearer picture of the case Blanc will have to solve, the film's eccentric cast of characters, and plenty murder-mystery humor.

Ahead of those trailers being released, the only footage that had been revealed was what was included in the release date announcement teaser, which you can view below.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery cast

Wake Up Dead Man marks the third outing for Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc (Image credit: Netflix)

Here's the confirmed cast for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery:

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

Unsurprisingly, Craig is back as the louche Blanc. Following his exploits as infamous British spy James Bond, Craig is getting a kick out of being the Knives Out film series' recurring protagonist. He's had a little makeover for this new outing, too with everyone's favorite bumbling detective sporting longer hair and a little stubble, albeit with a typically dandy suit and hat.

Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc in Knives Out 3 (Image credit: https://x.com/rianjohnson)

Just like the previous films, Blanc will be joined by an eclectic group of individuals.

The first cast addition came last May, with Spaeny and O'Connor said to have signed up. Less than 24 hours later, Knives Out 3 was confirmed to be a mini James Bond reunion after Scott was revealed as part of its ensemble. He starred opposite Craig in Spectre (find out where it sits in our how to watch best Daniel Craig Bond movies ranked article while you're here).

Renner, Kunis, Close, and Washington were added to Wake Up Dead Man's roster a day after Scott was said to have signed on. The final three additions – Josh Brolin, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church – were revealed before the end of May 2024.

There are a whole host of familiar faces among Knives Out 3's cast (Image credit: Netflix)

As for who this talented collection is playing: O'Connor is a young priest who's sent to assist Brolin's firebrand monsignor as part of a local church's clergy. Close's Delacroix is a devout member of said congregation, with Church's Holt being its groundskeeper.

Meanwhile, Kunis' Scott is a local police chief, Renner's Sharp is the town's doctor, McCormack's Draven is an aspiring politician, Washington's Lynn, is a tightly-wound lawyer, Scott's Ross is a best-selling author, Spaeny's Vivane is a concert cellist.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery story synopsis and speculation

Knives Out 3's story revolves around the apparent murder of Jefferson Wicks (Image credit: Netflix)

Here's Wake Up, Dead Man's plot brief: "When a young priest is sent to assist an charismatic firebrand, it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts a local police chief to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic."

Prior to the story synopsis' unveiling, we didn't know much about this film. Indeed, its logline – "Benoit Blanc's most dangerous case yet" – and Knives Out 3's official title, which was revealed in May 2024, were the only major public details that had been released.

Regardless, the franchise's third installment won't be wholly different to what's comes before. What ties the previous movies together – aside from the, you know, murders – are themes of class war, inequality, fame, and the skewering of the one percenters. It’s likely some or all of these issues will continue to have a light shone on them in Knives Out 3.

Will there be a fourth Knives Out movie?

This might not be Benoit Blanc's last case to solve (Image credit: Netflix)

There's no official word on whether a fourth film will be made. If one is, it's unclear it'll launch on Netflix, too, with the streaming giant only signing a deal with Johnson to make two Knives Out movies at a cot of $400 million in March 2021 (per Deadline).

However, Johnson and Craig have said they want to continue making more as long as they can.

Indeed, speaking to TechRadar, Johnson said he'd continue making Knives Out movies "forever" if given the opportunity. Johnson's comments came weeks after Craig told Variety – at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival – that he and Johnson would be happy to tell more tales involving Blanc as long as audiences turned up to enjoy them.

That said, the duo are conscious of the 'quality versus quantity' debate. Speaking with Deadline in November 2022 about a possible fourth movie in the Knives Out franchise, Craig said: "If there ever came a point where either Rian and I thought we were just churning them out, I think we would back away. I mean, I just don’t think that’s what either of us want to do in life. Unless people are getting genuine fun out of them, forget it."

For more Netflix coverage, read our guides on Bridgerton season 4, One Piece season 2, 3 Body Problem season 2, and Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2.