Knives Out 3: Wake Up Dead Man: All About the Star-Studded Netflix Film

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: John Wilson/Netflix

Benoit Blanc has even more mysteries to solve.

The upcoming sequel was first announced in March 2021, when Netflix bought the rights to theKnives Outfranchise in a reported $400 million deal thatincluded a second and third film.

On May 24, Netflix revealed the third installment is officially titledWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Plus, the streamer announced when fans can expect its release.

From the returning cast to the potential release date, here’s everything to know aboutKnives Out 3.

Who is in theKnives Out 3cast?

Daniel Craig inGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery(2022).John Wilson/Netflix

Craig is slated to reprise his role asdetective Benoit Blancin the upcoming film. Seeing as Johnson has described the film trilogy as an anthology, it’s unlikely that any othercast members fromGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysterywill return.

In May 2024, several new cast members were announced, includingFleabagactor Andrew Scott,Challengersactor Josh O’Connor andPriscillaactress Cailee Spaeny.

Glenn Closeis among those joining the cast ofWake Up Dead Man,and she called filming the movie “truly one of the best experiences of my life” when talking to PEOPLE in August 2024.

“I’m filming in London with Rian Johnson,” she said. “He’s such a fine human being. He’s kind, he’s brilliant. He has a great laugh!”

She went on to praise Johnson for creating a “cast from heaven.”

“This coming two weeks, we have scenes where all of us are in the same room, and I just can’t wait to see what he does and what he does and what she does. It’s so much fun," she said.

What willKnives Out 3be about?

An official plot forKnives Out 3hasn’t been announced yet, though some fans believethe second film includes an Easter eggabout the storyline for the upcoming movie.

In one of the early scenes from the film, when everyone is surprised to see Benoit Blanc at the dock, Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) asks, “Did you solve the murder of — oh — whatshername — the ballet dancer thing, that’s you?” Fans believe this is a hint that the third film could actually be a prequel about one of Benoit Blanc’s earlier cases.

Who is directingKnives Out 3?

Dave J Hogan/Getty

Johnson, who directed bothKnives OutandGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, will return to direct the third film. He will also pen the script for the upcoming movie.

When willKnives Out 3begin filming?

As casting announcements started rolling in in May 2024,Varietyreportedthat production was expected to begin very “soon.”

As Johnson revealed onX (formerly Twitter), filming began on June 10 and wrapped on Aug. 17.

“Aaaand that’s a wrap on Wake Up Dead Man. Went so fast! Best crew, incredible cast, this was a really special shoot and I cannot wait to put it together,” hewrote.

When willKnives Out 3be released?

In an interview withDeadlinepublished in November 2022, Johnson revealed thathe is still in the early process of planningthe third film, meaning that a release date is still far away.

“[It’s] the idea of figuring out how it can be completely different from this one as well as the first one,” he said, noting that he will likely start penning the script in early 2023.

“I’ve got a Moleskine notebook that I carry everywhere and I’m constantly jotting stuff down in it. The first 80 percent of the process, for me, is scribbling in notebooks and structuring it all out. I’m trying to get ahead,” he continued. “Even when I’m doing all the publicity for this film, I’m trying to start building up a structure, an idea, so that after New Year, when it’s time to actually get to work, I’m hopefully not just staring at that horrible blank page. But you always are, I guess.”

On May 24, Netflix revealed thatKnives Out 3will begin streaming in 2025.

Will there be aKnives Out 4?

John Wilson/Netflix

While Netflix hasn’t greenlit a fourth film,Johnson is on board to make more moviesif the script is right. “If each one of these can really be what Agatha Christie did, if it can be not just in a totally new location and a new cast, but also trying something exciting, I’ll keep doing it as long as Daniel [Craig] and I are having a good time. I’ll keep making these as long as they let me,” he toldVariety.

Craig echoed those same thoughts while speaking withDeadline, adding, “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. 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.”

source: people.com