Netflix Unveils First Look at ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ and Sets a December Release

The third chapter in Rian Johnson’s modern whodunnit franchise is officially on the calendar. Netflix has confirmed Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will arrive on December 12, bringing Daniel Craig back as detective Benoit Blanc. The announcement was paired with a brooding teaser during the streaming giant’s Tudum event in Los Angeles.

The footage hinted at a darker tone than previous entries. Swapping sun-soaked Greek islands for shadowy churches and sodden graveyards, the trailer layers atmosphere over intrigue. “The impossible crime,” Craig’s Blanc intones. “For a man of reason this is the Holy Grail.” The camera cuts between looming crosses and tense faces including one that might be a killer.

A new cast of suspects and red herrings fills out the ensemble. Josh O’Connor plays Reverend Jud Duplenticy, seen in the trailer rain-soaked and frenzied. He’s joined by Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. The teaser keeps details minimal but offers plenty of reasons to be suspicious. Or curious. Or both.

“This was dressed as a miracle, it was just a murder — and I solve murders,” Craig says in the trailer, delivering the line with trademark Blanc gravitas. The teaser’s release was introduced in person by Craig, with other cast members like Josh Brolin and Mila Kunis helping hype the crowd. Glenn Close joined via video with an expletive-laced greeting that earned laughs.

Writer-director Rian Johnson, who previously earned Oscar nominations for the Knives Out screenplays, returns once again. This film marks the third in a Netflix deal reportedly worth $469 million, following the success of Glass Onion. While the setting and tone may be shifting, Johnson’s appetite for complex murder puzzles appears intact.

The franchise is known for its layered plots, big performances, and a style all its own. Whether or not Wake Up Dead Man includes a supernatural twist is still unclear, but the teaser suggests we’re in for something more macabre than usual. One thing is certain: Benoit Blanc is back and he looks as sharp as ever. You can watch the teaser below.

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