Director Rian Johnson Unveils Teaser for Upcoming 'Knives Out' Sequel Titled 'Wake Up Dead Man'

Rian Johnson Drops Teaser Reveals Name for Next Knives Out Movie

John Wilson/Netflix

Benoit Blanc is officially back on the case.

On Friday, May 24, director Rian Johnson dropped a teaser for the third installment of his Knives Out franchise called Wake Up Dead Man. 

The 45-second clip showed that Daniel Craig will be back as private detective Blanc, playing the same character from the first two films of the franchise.

"In the past, knives were drawn, glass was broken," Craig, who is 56 years old, narrates. "But now, get ready for my most challenging case yet."

After showing a coffin and ringing a bell, the teaser announces that Wake Up Dead Man is set to come out in 2025. The film will be available on Netflix, as part of a $450 million agreement that the streaming service made for two Knives Out sequels in 2021.

Following the release of the teaser, Johnson, who is 50 years old and was also the writer and director of Knives Out in 2019 and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in 2022, expressed his excitement for the upcoming film.

"I am a huge fan of whodunnits, and one of the reasons I love them so much is how versatile the genre can be," he shared on X. "From Carr to Christie, there is a wide range of tones to explore, and creating Benoit Blanc movies allows me to delve into that spectrum, which is incredibly thrilling."

Rian Johnson Drops Teaser Reveals Name for Next Knives Out Movie

Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig are currently filming a new movie called “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” for Netflix.

Johnson is thrilled about the upcoming third installment of the series. He mentioned, “We’re about to go into production on the 3rd one, and I’m very, very excited to share the title, which gives a little hint of where it’s going.”

The first Knives Out movie had a star-studded cast with actors like Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, and LaKeith Stanfield working together to solve the murder of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey, portrayed by the late Christopher Plummer.

In its follow-up, Glass Onion, there was another ensemble cast featuring Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monae, Dave Bautista, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Kathryn Hahn.

No casting has been announced for Wake Up Dead Man besides Craig. Plot details are also being kept under wraps.

The Knives Out franchise has given Craig a chance to move away from his role as James Bond, which he portrayed in five films over a span of 15 years.

Craig shared with BBC in December 2022 that he believed there were many great scripts available, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. He mentioned that most scripts were not up to par. Therefore, when he received a script that stood out, he was extremely thrilled.

Editor's P/S:

The release of the teaser for "Wake Up Dead Man," the third installment of the "Knives Out" franchise, has sparked excitement among fans of the whodunit genre. Director Rian Johnson's enthusiasm for exploring the versatility of the genre and his collaboration with Daniel Craig, who reprises his role as detective Benoit Blanc, promise a captivating and suspenseful film experience. The teaser's cryptic nature and the promise of a "most challenging case yet" hint at a complex and intriguing mystery that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

The "Knives Out" franchise has garnered critical acclaim for its clever plotting, engaging characters, and star-studded casts. "Wake Up Dead Man" is expected to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors, delivering a sophisticated and entertaining cinematic experience. The lack of casting and plot details adds to the anticipation, allowing fans to speculate and theorize about the upcoming film. With Rian Johnson at the helm and Daniel Craig leading the investigation, "Wake Up Dead Man" is poised to be another triumph for the "Knives Out" franchise and a must-see for fans of mystery and suspense.