"Knives Out 3" — aka "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" — is set to reunite us with Daniel Craig's Southern super-sleuth for what's sure to be another Netflix mystery movie.
We're big fans of the "Knives Out" franchise at Tom's Guide: In our "Glass Onion" review, we called the previous installment "one of the best Netflix movies ever," so it should come as no surprise that we're looking forward to the next chapter, too.
We've not had a ton of info about Benoit Blanc's next case for a while. However, in the run-up to Tudum 2025, Netflix has started sharing some cryptic teasers that make me think a big "Knives Out 3" update could be around the corner. It's about time, too, as our last major update came when Rian Johnson revealed filming had wrapped back in August 2024!
Here's everything we know about "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" right now.
'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' release date speculation
As of our latest update, we only know that "Wake Up Dead Man" will be coming to Netflix at some point in 2025. That was confirmed way back in the title announcement trailer... but we still haven't gotten a precise "Knives Out 3" release date beyond that.
The preceding movie, "Glass Onion," did enjoy a brief theatrical run before it was made available to stream at home, and it's possible that "Wake Up Dead Man" could follow this pattern.
Daniel Craig made headlines after calling on Netflix to give "Knives Out 3" a big theatrical run. In a November 2024 interview with Variety, Craig argued that the movie deserved a full theatrical run.
"You know I do", Craig said when asked if the movie should be there longer than one week. "Hopefully, Netflix will push it a bit, and people will get to see it. The people I speak to — the fans, I suppose — all they want to do is take their families and go see it at the cinemas. That's all they want to do. Hopefully, we can give them that experience".
Whether the streamer follows through on his request remains to be seen. In the meantime, check out our list of the 7 best movies like "Knives Out" and "Glass Onion" for more mysteries to keep you entertained in the run-up to "Knives Out 3."
Production on the movie officially began on June 10, 2024, as confirmed by Rian Johnson.
Alongside this announcement, we got our very first look at Daniel Craig in costume as Benoit Blanc. This stylish shot shows Benoit Blanc sporting a new hairdo.
Thanks to another post on social media, we learned that filming on the project wrapped back in August. Rian Johnson confirmed the news on Instagram, with a black-and-white snap of a sign in a graveyard and a short comment that reads: "Aaaaaand that’s a wrap on "Wake Up Dead Man".
"Thank you to the best crew in the world and the most brilliant cast. This shoot was a VERY special experience, I cannot wait to put this thing together and show you all what we’ve got."
'Knives Out 3' cast: Who will star in 'Wake Up Dead Man'?
The last two "Knives Out" movies have boasted some truly killer ensembles, and it looks like "Knives Out 3" will be no different.
Naturally, you can't have a new "Knives Out" mystery without Benoit Blanc, and we already know that former 007 Daniel Craig will be back in action to solve the next murder, whoever the target[s] may be.
Since the movie's title was revealed, there was a steady stream of casting announcements that confirmed Craig will be joined by another set of stars. The new "Knives Out" ensemble already includes a number of big names, including "Dune Part 2" star Josh Brolin, screen legend Glenn Close, "Challengers" actor Josh O'Connor and many more. The downside? We don't know anything about the characters any of them are playing.
Here's the confirmed "Knives Out 3" cast list so far.
- Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc
- Josh Brolin
- Thomas Haden Church (as reported by The Wrap)
- Glenn Close
- Josh O'Connor
- Mila Kunis
- Daryl McCormack
- Jeremy Renner
- Andrew Scott
- Cailee Spaeny
- Kerry Washington
One actor we know won't be appearing in the movie is "Venom: The Last Dance" star, Tom Hardy. Although there were rumors that claimed he'd joined the cast earlier in the year, Hardy put them to bed while speaking to ET Online.
"Nobody's called me about this", Hardy said. "This came out in the Google machine this morning, even I was like, 'What's this?' Someone's gotta ask me. Sounds cool, but no one' asked me. That's showbiz, right? Maybe I am in it!"
'Wake Up Dead Man' plot — what could happen in 'Knives Out 3?'
Given the "Knives Out" movies have all been murder-mystery movies, we know precious little about the plot of "Wake Up Dead Man", and that doesn't seem likely to change anytime soon.
All we really know at the time of writing comes from the title announcement video (embedded below), wherein Craig's master detective proclaims this new investigation "my most dangerous case yet." Could that mean the body count will be higher this time around? Or maybe Benoit Blanc himself will be in harm's way?
Whatever happens in "Knives Out 3", director Rian Johnson has hinted this third 'whodunnit' will feel a bit different from its predecessors, which again makes us think this threequel could well end up being a bit darker. On Twitter (X), he stated that getting to explore the genre's 'tonal spectrum' is, in his words, 'one of the most exciting things about making Benoit Blanc movies'
Is there a 'Knives Out 3' trailer yet?
Not yet! So far, all we've seen in the trailer department for "Knives Out 3" is the title announcement video, which revealed that Benoit Blanc's third case would officially be known as "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery".
At the end of May 2025, Netflix started sharing some cryptic teasers for the new movie. All they really do is sell a kind of Gothic, spookier vibe for the movie... but fans believe they hold a deeper significance.
"The devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." pic.twitter.com/WyrQJJuCHyMay 29, 2025
We've seen two of these brief clips as of our latest update, and both are comprised of a quote and a moving image. Both these quotes are actually Bible passages, and if you look the passages up, you'll find a clue that could point us to a release date.
Both are quotations from verse 12, chapter 12 of either the Book of Revelations or Proverbs... does that mean we can expect "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" to start streaming on December 12? Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long to find out.
"The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures." pic.twitter.com/EYTtLlcYUXMay 28, 2025
Will there be more 'Knives Out' movies?
Netflix only ordered two sequels, but it's clear that Johnson and Craig are keen to make more "Knives Out" sequels.
Before the release of "Glass Onion", Daniel Craig told Variety that he'd happily keep coming back as Benoit Blanc.
"If he keeps writing them, I'll keep doing them", Craig said at the time, gesturing to Rian Johnson. "That's what makes it easy then, he's such a wonderful writer that it's there on the page for me to do."
Luckily, Johnson feels the same: speaking at the sequel's premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the director said: "I'm going to keep making these until Daniel [Craig] blocks me on his phone".
In short, as long as Rian Johnson's got another idea, it's certainly sounding like we'll get another Benoit Blanc mystery after "Knives Out 3". Watch this space.
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