Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premiered at Toronto International Film Festival with teaser trailer and glowing reception ahead of its Netflix debut.
The knives are out once again, and this time the stakes are higher than ever. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third installment in Rian Johnson’s acclaimed murder mystery series, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to thunderous applause, with its star-studded cast captivating audiences both on-screen and in an electric portrait captured by Frank Ockenfels.
The festival debut wasn’t the only buzzworthy reveal. Alongside the premiere, Netflix unveiled the official teaser trailer and brand-new images, setting the stage for Benoit Blanc’s darkest case yet. The film will hit select theaters on November 26, 2025, before streaming worldwide on December 12, 2025.
Academy Award nominee Rian Johnson returns as both writer and director, reuniting with producer Ram Bergman to expand his murder mystery opus. Leading the ensemble is Daniel Craig, reprising his role as Southern sleuth Benoit Blanc. This time, Blanc is drawn into a chilling investigation when a shocking and seemingly impossible murder rocks a small town parish.
The all-star cast includes Josh O’Connor as young priest Jud Duplenticy, Josh Brolin as charismatic Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, Glenn Close as devout parishioner Martha Delacroix, Thomas Haden Church as groundskeeper Samson Holt, Kerry Washington as tightly-wound lawyer Vera Draven, Daryl McCormack as aspiring politician Cy Draven, Jeremy Renner as town doctor Nat Sharp, Andrew Scott as best-selling author Lee Ross, Cailee Spaeny as concert cellist Simone Vivane, and Mila Kunis as local police chief Geraldine Scott, who partners with Blanc when the case defies all logic.
With its gothic atmosphere, small-town intrigue, and high-caliber ensemble, Wake Up Dead Man promises to deliver Johnson’s most ambitious Knives Out chapter yet. Fans and critics alike are already calling it the most daring entry in the franchise, one that blends suspense, wit, and a touch of the macabre.
As TIFF audiences discovered, Benoit Blanc is about to face a mystery that pushes him—and the genre itself—into thrilling new territory.
