Wake Up Dead Man: Benoit Blanc Returns in Dark New Chapter of Knives Out Series

A Gothic Turn for Detective Blanc

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, written and directed by Rian Johnson, marks the third installment in the successful Knives Out film series.

The story transports Detective Benoit Blanc to a small hamlet in upstate New York, where he becomes entangled in a case involving a young priest named Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) and local Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin).

Star-Studded Ensemble

The film features an impressive ensemble cast including Josh Brolin, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as the enigmatic detective.

A Different Tone

Unlike the ultra-contemporary Glass Onion, this new installment returns to the literary roots of the murder mystery genre, predating even Agatha Christie and reaching back to Edgar Allan Poe. The film embraces a gothic aesthetic, featuring old stone churches and graveyards.

Release Schedule and Early Reception

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, and will have a theatrical release on November 26, 2025, before arriving on Netflix on December 12, 2025. Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with the film maintaining a 95% positive rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and earning a score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating “universal acclaim.”

Looking Forward

Director Rian Johnson notes that the religious setting provides rich ground for exploring themes of “guilt, mystery, morality, and fallible humanity,” while also addressing how faith intersects with cultural and civic life. This installment promises to be Blanc’s most personal journey yet, challenging the detective to engage with both the case and himself in unprecedented ways.