Daniel Craig Returns to Solve “Impossible Crime” in ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Trailer

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Sep 9

Written By Jonathan P. Moustakas

Daniel Craig in 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.' **Courtesy of Netflix © 2025**

Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out mystery takes Benoit Blanc to church in a gothic, mind-bending new case.

Benoit Blanc is back — and this time, the case is divine.

Netflix has unveiled the first teaser for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Rian Johnson’s third installment in the wildly successful murder mystery franchise. Daniel Craig reprises his role as the Southern-fried sleuth, stepping into what promises to be his darkest and most mystifying case yet. The teaser sets the stage for a near-paranormal whodunit involving faith, death, and deception — and introduces an all-star ensemble navigating the fallout of an “impossible” murder.

Narrated by Blanc himself, the trailer reveals the cryptic murder of a priest who steps into a sealed concrete box in plain view — only to be found dead seconds later. “A classic, impossible crime,” Craig drawls, setting the tone for a story steeped in myth, misdirection, and the sinister rituals of a quiet community.

Watch The Trailer Below:

Josh O’Connor plays Jud Duplenticy, a former boxer turned priest sent to assist the firebrand Monsignor Wicks, portrayed by Josh Brolin. When tragedy strikes, local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) calls in the world’s most famous detective. With death hiding behind every stained-glass window, and a cast of characters that includes best-selling authors, cello-playing prodigies, and conniving lawyers, Wake Up Dead Man doubles down on the ensemble dynamics that made the previous entries so fun — and adds a dash of theological dread.

Josh O’Connor in *Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.* **Courtesy of Netflix © 2025**

Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Daryl McCormack, Cailee Spaeny, and Thomas Haden Church round out the cast, with each new frame teasing motives, secrets, and simmering tension. The film marks the first Knives Out mystery set largely in a religious setting, and early glimpses suggest a tone that leans more Se7en than Clue. If Glass Onion was Johnson’s satirical jab at tech billionaires and vanity politics, Wake Up Dead Man looks primed to ask bigger questions about morality, myth, and institutional power.

Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington and Daryl McCormack. **John Wilson/Netflix © 2025**

The official logline reads: “Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet in the third and darkest chapter of Rian Johnson’s murder mystery opus. When young priest Jud Duplenticy (O’Connor) is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. Wicks’ modest-but-devoted flock includes devout church lady Martha Delacroix (Close), circumspect groundskeeper Samson Holt (Church), tightly-wound lawyer Vera Draven, Esq. (Washington), aspiring politician Cy Draven (McCormack), 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.”

Andrew Scott, Mila Kunis, Daryl McCormack, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington and Cailee Spaeny. **John Wilson/Netflix © 2025**

The Knives Out universe began in 2019 with Johnson’s Oscar-nominated breakout hit. In 2021, Netflix paid over $450 million for the rights to two sequels, beginning with Glass Onion, which released in 2022. Wake Up Dead Man marks the third and final entry in the current deal — and Johnson is signaling a tonal shift from satire to psychological puzzle-box.

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Early reactions have been especially enthusiastic about Josh O’Connor’s performance, with The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney calling him “a considerable plus” as both a spiritual center and possible suspect. With Rian Johnson once again writing and directing, and producing alongside Ram Bergman, expectations are high for a film that redefines what a franchise mystery can be.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premieres November 26 in select theaters and December 12 on Netflix.