Everything we know about “Knives Out 3”

With Glenn Close, Josh O'Connor, and Andrew Scott among the list of suspects, "Wake Up Dead Man" promises to be another killer mystery.

The game is once again afoot for renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig).

Fans have eagerly awaited news on the third Knives Out film, and writer-director Rian Johnson delivered with a teaser announcing the film's title, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, and the announcement that production was about to begin.

"I love everything about whodunnits, but one of the things I love most is how malleable the genre is," Johnson teased in a statement posted to Twitter/X. "There’s a whole tonal spectrum from Carr to Christie, and getting to explore that range is one of the most exciting things about making Benoit Blanc movies."

Related: Knives Out 3 title Wake Up Dead Man teases Daniel Craig's 'most dangerous case yet'

Scant details on the project are known besides the fact that it's coming to Netflix sometime in 2025 and that it will once again star Craig as private investigator Benoit Blanc. But if we know Johnson, he'll be dropping plenty of clues along the way. So, we're ready to compile a case file as the release date draws ever nearer, and we'll add clues as we discover them.

Here's everything we know about Wake Up Dead Man.

The Case

As has been true of the previous two Knives Out movies, very few details about the central mystery have been revealed. But we can make some educated guesses based on the title and the teaser announcement video.

In his post on social media, Johnson teased, "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." In the case of each of the films, the title has contained a clue as to the direction of the story.

As with the previous two entries in the series, the title takes its name from a rock song. Wake Up Dead Man shares its title with a U2 song off their 1997 album Pop. The song is fairly straightforward, featuring Bono's plea that Jesus return and save humanity from itself. There's even some hint of yearning for an apocalyptic event to restart the world. Perhaps Benoit Blanc will be contending with a messianic figure this time?

The biblical nature of things is also reinforced by Craig's voiceover in the title announcement video. "In the beginning, the knives came out," Craig's Benoit says. "Then behold, the glass was shattered. But my most dangerous case yet is about to be revealed."

The use of phrases like "in the beginning" and "then behold," as well as the word "revealed," echoes a suggested religious tone, using common lingo from the Bible.

Related: Why director Rian Johnson is 'pissed off' about the title of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Additionally, the typeface used for the title is a form of Gothic Blackletter, commonly used in the printing of Bibles in the 16th and 17th centuries. The video also showcases a coffin in its imagery, and the final sound we hear is the tolling of a church bell.

The Suspects

In each of his cases, Blanc has had to face off against a murderer's row of suspects, having to outsmart and outlast them to uncover the truth. Wake Up Dead Man will be no exception, with its ensemble already shaping up to be quite the colorful cast.

Josh O'Connor, fresh off his highly acclaimed performance in the sexy sports drama Challengers, takes on a role in the third Knives Out entry. O'Connor has proved he is equally adept at portraying a sexy dirtbag as he is an overwhelmed, shy man, so we shall see which version of him comes out to play.

Cailee Spaeny's career is on the upswing, having just delivered the one-two punch of her award-nominated take on Priscilla Presley in Priscilla and a starring role in the provocative Civil War. She's no stranger to murder mysteries, previously appearing in HBO's Mare of Easttown.

Andrew Scott has a knack for portraying devilishly handsome criminal masterminds, be it Tom Ripley in Ripley or Moriarty in Sherlock. But he's also fantastic at ripping out our hearts as a devastating leading man, as he did in both Fleabag and All of Us Strangers. How will his gift for playing slippery, unknowable figures factor in here?

Eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close is also joining the ensemble. While her role is also under wraps, Close promises to bring some veteran gravitas to the cast. She's also well-versed in the mystery genre, having previously starred in the 2017 Agatha Christie adaptation Crooked House. We just hope Benoit Blanc isn't thinking of getting a pet bunny.

Kerry Washington will also be part of the starry Wake Up Dead Man line-up. Lately, Washington has been spending time lending her voice to The Simpsons, but she's best known for her Emmy-winning role as fixer Olivia Pope on Shondaland's Scandal. So if Benoit Blanc needs someone to help clean up a PR crisis, he knows who to call now.

Jeremy Renner is also joining the cast. Best known for his portrayal of the Marvel character Hawkeye, Renner has been recovering after an accident involving a snowplow in early 2023. Wake Up Dead Man will be his first movie role since starting his recovery journey. Benoit Blanc, watch out for arrows! One does have to wonder, however, how Renner will fit into this world considering his name and likeness appeared in Glass Onion — as Jeremy Renner's hot sauce was a key element in the twisty plot.

Mila Kunis once battled CIA agents in The Spy Who Dumped Me. Will she uncover another conspiracy alongside Benoit Blanc? The That '70s Show and Bad Moms star joins the already stacked Wake Up Dead Man cast. In her career, Kunis has taken on both comedic and dramatic roles. What kind of character will she play in the Knives Out universe? It's a toss-up!

Irish actor Daryl McCormack made headlines for his nude scene with Emma Thompson in the 2022 film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. He's also appeared in several TV shows, including Peaky Blinders and The Wheel of Time. Now, McCormack is also confirmed to be part of the Wake Up Dead Man cast. McCormack has been busy; he will also star in this summer's Twisters.

Josh Brolin, perhaps best known for playing villain Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will appear in the new Knives Out mystery. Details about his character are currently unknown, but we can make some guesses. Maybe he'll play an advisor to a powerful family — like his character Gurney in the Dune films. Or a famous poet who reveals secrets about the other characters.

Sideways and Spider-Man: No Way Home star Thomas Haden Church is also joining the Knives Out cast in a mystery role. The actor can currently be seen in Kevin Costner's sweeping Western epic Horizon: An American Saga. We just hope Benoit Blanc remembers not to serve him any Merlot.

The Scene of the Crime

In the Knives Out films, the setting is just as much a character as any member of the ensemble. The first film oozed classic cozy murder mystery with its New England setting, centered around the Thrombey estate with its sense of old-money grandeur. Glass Onion moved away from the first film's snowy, sweater-weather climes to a positively balmy Mediterranean destination, situating the majority of the action on a private island in Greece.

But where will Wake Up Dead Man take place? The setting has yet to be revealed, but we'll say that the teaser video gives us some seriously spooky, Gothic vibes.

Related: Rian Johnson wants to expand the Knives Out world to include a board game and a stage play

The Timeline

Production officially began on Wake Up Dead Man on Monday, June 10, with Johnson sharing the first image of Craig suited up as Benoit Blanc. Always a snappy dresser, Blanc is seen wearing an impeccably tailored three-piece suit and carrying a fedora.

One major change, however? Blanc's usual close-cropped hair has been grown out into something a bit more romantic. It's hard to make out in the image, but it appears as if Blanc might even be rocking a tiny ponytail.

"Aaaaand we’re off!" Johnson wrote alongside the photo. "Today is day 1 of shooting on the next Benoit Blanc mystery Wake Up Dead Man - see you on the other side."

Additionally, as opposed to the warm autumn trappings of the first film and the vibrant island vibes of Glass Onion, this image suggests a starker environment for Benoit Blanc with its black-and-white hues. Craig appears to be standing on an empty soundstage and not any rendering of a set, but who's to say for sure?

Netflix says the film will premiere in 2025, and we'd guess, based on production schedules, that it will debut sometime in the second half of the year (likely around the same Thanksgiving window as the first two films).

Related: Through the looking glass: Inside Knives Out sequel Glass Onion

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As for the timeline of the story within the film, that's also unknown. Glass Onion dealt practically with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, using lockdown and quarantine as story points. We must assume Wake Up Dead Man will be set some time after 2021 or 2022.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.