The first photos from the much-anticipated third installment of the Knives Out series, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, have been unveiled, featuring Daniel Craig reprising his role as the quirky yet brilliant Detective Benoit Blanc. With principal photography having kicked off recently, the excitement among fans and the film community is palpable.
Directed by Rian Johnson, this Netflix production promises to deliver another thrilling whodunnit with an ensemble cast that's sure to captivate audiences. Johnson couldn't contain his enthusiasm about the cast, which includes not just Daniel Craig but also heavyweights like Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Josh Brolin, Adam Scott, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, and Josh O'Connor.
Johnson shared his thoughts on the cast with Netflix's Tudum: “We've been very lucky with each of these movies to have gathered some of my favorite actors on the planet, and that's absolutely the case here. They're also all lovely folks who get along, which is the dinner party aspect of it. When you're making an ensemble movie like this, I think that's key.”
Jeremy Renner, who made a humorous cameo in the second film via a bottle of ‘Renning Hot' habanero chili pepper sauce, takes on a more significant role this time. Johnson was thrilled to work with him, saying, “Jeremy's a great actor who I've wanted to work with for a long time. I was very relieved he thought the hot sauce thing was funny!”
Details of the plot are being kept under wraps, but the teaser trailer hints at Blanc's “most dangerous case yet.” The film's title, inspired by U2's 1997 song Wake Up Dead Man, suggests a darker, more intense mystery.
Fans of the series will recall that the first film drew its title from a Radiohead song, while the second was named after a Beatles tune. Johnson hinted at his love for the genre, noting on X (formerly Twitter), “I love everything about whodunnits, but one of the things I love most is how malleable the genre is. 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.”
As production continues, fans eagerly await more details. With its star-studded cast and the creative genius of Rian Johnson at the helm, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is shaping up to be a must-watch film for 2024. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to its release.
