Benoit Blanc Returns in 'Wake Up Dead Man' Amid Critical Acclaim

The private investigator Benoit Blanc, once again portrayed by Daniel Craig, anchors the latest cinematic installment, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. This film marks the third entry in the series, following the original Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022), with writer and director Rian Johnson presenting Blanc with what he terms a "perfectly impossible murder" set within a church environment. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 6, 2025, followed by its United States theatrical release on November 26, 2025, with a global debut on Netflix scheduled for December 12, 2025.

The central mystery revolves around the sudden death of the charismatic Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, played by Josh Brolin, which occurs immediately after he concludes a sermon. Blanc is drawn into the investigation in upstate New York, where he collaborates with local Police Chief Geraldine Scott, portrayed by Mila Kunis, and the newly assigned junior priest, Father Jud Duplenticy, played by Josh O'Connor. The narrative explores themes of faith and resurrection, focusing on a congregation whose devotion appears heavily centered on the Monsignor himself rather than strictly on divinity.

The ensemble cast assembled by Johnson for this complex case includes prominent actors such as Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. Initial critical assessments of Wake Up Dead Man have been favorable, with many reviewers suggesting it may be the most ambitious entry in the Benoit Blanc canon to date. The plot details reveal that Wicks was poisoned and subsequently stabbed with a knife fashioned from a devil's head lamp adornment, making Father Jud, who had previously clashed with Wicks over his preaching, the initial prime suspect.

The intricate story involves a hidden inheritance and a jewel referred to as 'Eve's apple.' The scheme, orchestrated by Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), aimed to preserve Wicks' image before he succumbed to greed, a sequence of events that ultimately led to the deaths of Dr. Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner) and groundskeeper Samson (Thomas Haden Church). Netflix secured the rights to this and the preceding sequel in a reported $450 million deal for two follow-ups to the original 2019 film, which achieved worldwide gross revenue of $311.4 million on a $40 million budget, illustrating the streaming service's strategy in a competitive market.

Director Rian Johnson has maintained a firm creative position, asserting he will only continue the series if he retains writing and directing control, stating he does not view the series merely as Intellectual Property. Despite this film concluding the initial Netflix agreement, Johnson and producer Ram Bergman have indicated they are actively formulating ideas for a potential fourth Benoit Blanc adventure, with Johnson confirming he began developing concepts for a fourth film by November 18, 2025.