Netflix has revealed the release strategy for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third installment in Rian Johnson’s acclaimed murder mystery series.
The film will world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, followed by screenings at the London Film Festival in October. After that, it will open in select theaters on November 26 for a two-week run, before arriving on Netflix globally on December 12.
Daniel Craig reprises his role as master detective Benoit Blanc, taking on what Johnson has teased as Blanc’s “most dangerous case yet.” The all-star ensemble includes Kerry Washington, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.
The Official Synopsis
“When young priest Jud Duplenticy (O’Connor) is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Brolin), it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. Wicks’s modest-but-devoted flock includes devout church lady Martha Delacroix (Close), tightly-wound lawyer Vera Draven (Washington), aspiring politician Cy Draven (McCormack), circumspect groundskeeper Samson Holt (Haden Church), town doctor Nat Sharp (Renner), best-selling author Lee Ross (Scott), and concert cellist Simone Vivane (Spaeny). After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott (Kunis) to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.”
A New Release Strategy
Unlike 2019’s Knives Out, which Lionsgate distributed theatrically, and 2022’s Glass Onion, which Netflix released for just one week in about 600 theaters, Wake Up Dead Man marks the streamer’s boldest theatrical rollout yet. The two-week window not only builds anticipation ahead of its Netflix debut, but also ensures eligibility for the 98th Academy Awards.
Rian Johnson has been vocal about wanting longer and wider theatrical releases, telling Business Insider that he hopes this entry will play in “as many theaters for as long as possible.”
A Gothic Mystery with Musical Roots
The first trailer teased the story’s gothic setting, with a church and cemetery serving as key locations. True to form, the title once again draws inspiration from music: Knives Out was named after a Radiohead track, Glass Onion after a Beatles song, and Wake Up Dead Man after a 1997 U2 track—hinting at the darker themes running through this chapter.
Release Timeline of the Trilogy
- Knives Out — November 27, 2019
- Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery — November 23, 2022
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — November 26, 2025 (theatrical) | December 12, 2025 (Netflix)
With its expanded release and heavyweight cast, Wake Up Dead Man looks set to be the most ambitious entry in the franchise yet.