Detective Benoit Blanc is back, and this time with a fresh new look as 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' officially kicks off production with director Rian Johnson.
- Jun 11, 2024
AceShowbiz - On June 10, fans of the "Knives Out" series were treated to a first look at Daniel Craig's return as Detective Benoit Blanc in the eagerly anticipated third film, "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery."
Director Rian Johnson shared a black and white image of Craig sporting longer hair and a suit, captioning it, "Aaaaand we're off! Today is day 1 of shooting on the next Benoit Blanc mystery 'Wake Up Dead Man' - see you on the other side."
This upcoming sequel follows the success of 2019's "Knives Out" and 2022's "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery." It was first announced in March 2021, and the filming has now officially begun.
The new movie has fans buzzing with excitement, especially since Netflix acquired the rights to produce two sequels in a whopping $400 million deal. With an all-star cast joining Daniel Craig, including Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, and Cailee Spaeny, expectations are sky-high.
The franchise, which rejuvenated the whodunit genre, has become a fan favorite thanks to its clever storytelling and compelling characters. Johnson's direction and Craig's portrayal of the charmingly eccentric Blanc have been pivotal to its success. The first "Knives Out" film grossed over $310 million worldwide and earned an Oscar nomination for its screenplay.
The upcoming "Wake Up Dead Man" promises to be Blanc's "most dangerous case yet," according to a voiceover in a teaser clip shared by Johnson. Although the plot details are kept under wraps, some fans speculate that an Easter egg in "Glass Onion" hints at the storyline for the third film.
In one scene, Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) asks Blanc, "Did you solve the murder of - oh - whatshername - the ballet dancer thing, that's you?" This has led many to believe the new movie could be a prequel focusing on one of Blanc's earlier cases.
Rian Johnson, who is directing from his own script and producing alongside Ram Bergman for T-Street, has assembled an even more star-studded cast for this third installment. Joining the ensemble are new faces like Andrew Scott, Daryl McCormack, and Josh Brolin, making it one of the most anticipated releases of 2025.
Daniel Craig has expressed his openness to continue the franchise as long as the content remains fresh and enjoyable. Speaking to Deadline about a potential fourth movie, he stated, "I mean, if people are interested, then we'll make them. But if there ever came a point where either Rian and I thought we were just churning them out, I think we would back away."
Fans won't have to wait too long for more thrilling mysteries as "Knives Out 3" is slated to hit Netflix in 2025.
